A. P. Herbert Quotes and Sayings - Page 1
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“As my poor father used to say In 1963, Once people start on all this Art Goodbye, moralitee! And what my father used to say Is good enough for me.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : Ballads for Broadbrows (1930) "Lines for a Worthy Person"
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“Elderly gentlemen, gentle in all respects, kind to animals, beloved by children, and fond of music, are found in lonely corners of the downs, hacking at sandpits or tussocks of grass, and muttering in a blind, ungovernable fury elaborate maledictions which could not be extracted from them by robbery or murder. Men who would face torture without a word become blasphemous at the short fourteenth. It is clear that the game of golf may well be included in that category of intolerable provocations which may legally excuse or mitigate behavior not otherwise excusable.”
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“The concept of two people living together for 25 years without a serious dispute suggests a lack of spirit only to be admired in sheep.”
-- A. P. Herbert -
“A high-brow is someone who looks at a sausage and thinks of Picasso.”
-- A. P. Herbert -
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“People must not do things for fun. We are not here for fun. There is no reference to fun in any Act of Parliament.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : Uncommon Law (1935) "Is it a Free Country?"
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“Let's find out what everyone is doing, And then stop everyone from doing it.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : 1930 'Let's Stop Somebody from Doing Something'.
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“The Common Law of England has been laboriously built about a mythical figure-the figure of 'The Reasonable Man'.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : 'Uncommon Law' (1935) 'The Reasonable Man'
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“A dull speaker, like a plain woman, is credited with all the virtues, for we charitably suppose that a surface so unattractive must be compensated by interior blessings.”
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“Well, fancy giving money to the Government! Might as well have put it down the drain.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : 1931 'Too Much!'.
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“Men who would face torture without a word become blasphemous at the short fourteenth. It is clear that the game of golf may well be included in that category of intolerable provocations which may legally excuse or mitigate behaviour not otherwise excusable.”
-- A. P. Herbert -
“This high official, all allow, is grossly overpaid; there wasn't any Board, and now there isn't any Trade.”
-- A. P. Herbert -
“Citizens who take it upon themselves to do unusual actions which attract the attention of the police should be careful to bring these actions into one of the recognized categories of crimes and offences, for it is intolerable that the police should be put to the pains of inventing reasons for finding them undesirable.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : "Uncommon Law". Book by A. P. Herbert. Chapter "Is It a Free Country?", 1935.
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“A man who has made up his mind on a given subject twenty-five years ago and continues to hold his political opinions after he has been proved to be wrong is a man of principle; while he who from time to time adapts his opinions to the changing circumstances of life is an opportunist.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : "Uncommon Law". Book by A. P. Herbert, 1935.
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“Let's stop somebody from doing something! Everybody does too much.”
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“Justice should be cheap but judges expensive.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : "Uncommon Law". Book by A. P. Herbert, 1935.
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“The whole Constitution has been erected upon the assumption that the King not only is capable of doing wrong but is more likely to do wrong than other men if he is given the chance.”
-- A. P. Herbert -
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“For I must write to The Times tonight, and save the world from sin.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : "Laughing Ann". Book by A. P. Herbert, 1925.
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“The portions of a woman which appeal to man's depravity Are constructed with considerable care.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : "Lines on a Book Borrowed from the Ship's Doctor". "A. P. H.: His Life and Times". Book by A. P. Herbert, 1970.
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“If nobody said anything unless he knew what he was talking about, a ghastly hush would descend upon the earth.”
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“Well, fancy giving money to the Government! Might as well have put it down the drain. Fancy giving money to the Government! Nobody will see the stuff again. Well, they've not idea what money's for- Ten to one they'll start another war. I've heard a lot of silly things, but, Lor'! Fancy giving money to the Government!”
-- A. P. Herbert -
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“An Englishman never enjoys himself, except for a noble purpose.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : 1935 Uncommon Law,'Fox-Hunting Fun'.
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“Harriet, Hi! Light of my eye! Come to the pictures and have a good cry, For it's jolly old Saturday, Mad-as-a-hatter-day, Nothing-much-matter-day-night!”
-- A. P. Herbert -
“My ball is in a bunch of fern, A jolly place to be; An angry man is close astern- He waves his club at me. Well, let him wave-the sky is blue; Go on, old ball, we are but two-We may be down in three, Or nine-or ten-or twenty-five-It matters not; to be alive, Is good enough for me.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : A.P. Herbert (2014). “Mild And Bitter”, p.20, House of Stratus
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“An act of God was defined as something which no reasonable man could have expected.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : Uncommon Law "Act of God" (1935)
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“The critical period of matrimony is breakfast-time.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : Uncommon Law (1935) "Is Marriage Lawful?"
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“Don't let's go to the dogs tonight, For mother will be there.”
-- A. P. HerbertSource : She-Shanties (1926) "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight"
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“The rain is plentious but, by God's decree, Only a third is meant for you and me; Two-thirds are taken by the growing things Or vanish Heavenward on vapour's wings: Nor does it mathematically fall With social equity on one and all. The population's habit is to grow In every region where the water's low: Nature is blamed for failings that are Man's, And well-run rivers have to change their plans.”
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“aven, I have given up smoking again!... God! I feel fit. Homicidal, but fit. A different man. Irritable, moody, depressed, rude, nervy, perhaps; but the lungs are fine.”
-- A. P. Herbert -
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