John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
Page 459
| John Quincy Adams. (1767–1848) (continued) |
| 4850 |
| This hand, to tyrants ever sworn the foe, For Freedom only deals the deadly blow; Then sheathes in calm repose the vengeful blade, For gentle peace in Freedom’s hallowed shade. 1 |
| Written in an Album, 1842. |
| 4851 |
| This is the last of earth! I am content. |
| His Last Words, Feb. 21, 1848. |
| David Everett. (1769–1813) |
| 4852 |
| You ’d scarce expect one of my age To speak in public on the stage; And if I chance to fall below Demosthenes or Cicero, Don’t view me with a critic’s eye, But pass my imperfections by. Large streams from little fountains flow, Tall oaks from little acorns grow. 2 |
| Lines written for a School Declamation. |
| Sydney Smith. (1771–1845) |
| 4853 |
| It requires a surgical operation to get a joke well into a Scotch understanding. 3 |
| Lady Holland’s Memoir. Vol. i. p. 15. |
| 4854 |
| That knuckle-end of England,—that land of Calvin, oat-cakes, and sulphur. |
| Lady Holland’s Memoir. Vol. i. p. 17. |
| 4855 |
| No one minds what Jeffrey says:… it is not more than a week ago that I heard him speak disrespectfully of the equator. |
| Lady Holland’s Memoir. Vol. i. p. 17. |
| Note 1. See Sidney, Quotation 1. See Also: John Quincy Adams: Inaugural Address [back] |
| Note 2. The lofty oak from a small acorn grows.—Lewis Duncombe (1711–1730): De Minimus Maxima (translation). [back] |
| Note 3. See Walpole, Quotation 4. [back] |