Quotes by English Authors | Beyond Motive 100/434

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Quotes by English Authors

"Grief is the price we pay for love."

"Grief is the price we pay for love."

Queen Elizabeth II, English Royalty

50

"There's a passion about this because people take it very close to their hearts and they have grown up with James Bond - and so have I. But I was being criticized before I had presented anything, so it was name calling."

"There's a passion about this because people take it very close to their hearts and they have grown up with James Bond - and so have I. But I was being criticized before I had presented anything, so it was name calling."

Daniel Craig, English Actor

People, Being, Name, Passion

50

"The idea of dying and coming back is what makes the Halloween films work."

"The idea of dying and coming back is what makes the Halloween films work."

Donald Pleasence, English Actor

Work, Idea, Dying

50

"It's not just for its influence on us, but to know that we can play a part in it, to understand the influence that we have outside our own existence."

"It's not just for its influence on us, but to know that we can play a part in it, to understand the influence that we have outside our own existence."

Siobhan Davies, English Dancer

Existence, Influence, Play

50

"There's a statistical theory that if you gave a million monkeys typewriters and set them to work, they'd eventually come up with the complete works of Shakespeare. Thanks to the Internet, we now know this isn't true."

"There's a statistical theory that if you gave a million monkeys typewriters and set them to work, they'd eventually come up with the complete works of Shakespeare. Thanks to the Internet, we now know this isn't true."

Ian Hart, English Actor

Work, Internet, Now, Shakespeare

50

"When we read a story, we inhabit it. The covers of the book are like a roof and four walls. What is to happen next will take place within the four walls of the story. And this is possible because the story's voice makes everything its own."

"When we read a story, we inhabit it. The covers of the book are like a roof and four walls. What is to happen next will take place within the four walls of the story. And this is possible because the story's voice makes everything its own."

John Berger, English Artist

50

"The movement for the environment really only started in the mid 1970's."

"The movement for the environment really only started in the mid 1970's."

Anita Roddick, English Businessman

50

"When from our better selves we have too long been parted by the hurrying world, and droop. Sick of its business, of its pleasures tired, how gracious, how benign in solitude."

"When from our better selves we have too long been parted by the hurrying world, and droop. Sick of its business, of its pleasures tired, how gracious, how benign in solitude."

William Wordsworth, English Poet

Peace, Business, Solitude, World

50

"The city is not a concrete jungle, it is a human zoo."

"The city is not a concrete jungle, it is a human zoo."

Desmond Morris, English Scientist

50

"Though why should we expect age to mellow us? If it isn't life's business to reward merit, why should it be life's business to give us warm, comfortable feelings towards its end? What possible evolutionary purpose could nostalgia serve?"

"Though why should we expect age to mellow us? If it isn't life's business to reward merit, why should it be life's business to give us warm, comfortable feelings towards its end? What possible evolutionary purpose could nostalgia serve?"

Julian Barnes, English Writer

Life, Aging, Nostalgia, Reflection

50

"At the moment the Queen stuff does sell really well, but there's no guarantee it'll go on forever."

"At the moment the Queen stuff does sell really well, but there's no guarantee it'll go on forever."

Brian May, English Musician

50

"A gift of truth is the gift of love."

"A gift of truth is the gift of love."

David Icke, English Athlete

50

"Temple was a man of the world amongst men of letters, a man of letters amongst men of the world."

"Temple was a man of the world amongst men of letters, a man of letters amongst men of the world."

Thomas B. Macaulay, English Historian

Man, Men, Temple, Letters

50

"Well, you know, I mean, I first did my live shows in the late 70's and in those days I had a boatload of equipment that always seemed to be going wrong."

"Well, you know, I mean, I first did my live shows in the late 70's and in those days I had a boatload of equipment that always seemed to be going wrong."

Thomas Dolby, English Musician

50

"In every age poets and social reformers have tried to stimulate the people of their own time to a nobler life by enchanting stories of the virtues of the heroes of old."

"In every age poets and social reformers have tried to stimulate the people of their own time to a nobler life by enchanting stories of the virtues of the heroes of old."

Alfred Marshall, English Economist

Life, Age, Time, People

50

"The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues."

"The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues."

Elizabeth Taylor, English Actress

People, Pretty, Vices

50

"But at any rate, the point is that God is what nobody admits to being, and everybody really is."

"But at any rate, the point is that God is what nobody admits to being, and everybody really is."

Alan Watts, English Philosopher

50

"Sudden glory is the passion which maketh those grimaces called laughter."

"Sudden glory is the passion which maketh those grimaces called laughter."

Thomas Hobbes, English Philosopher

Glory, Laughter, Passion

50

"A hard beginning maketh a good ending."

"A hard beginning maketh a good ending."

John Heywood, English Dramatist

Beginning, Ending

50

"I maintain an ongoing survey of Internet Publishing and self publishing, so that it is now possible for any writer with a book to get it published at nominal cost or free, and to have it on sale at booksellers like Amazon.com."

"I maintain an ongoing survey of Internet Publishing and self publishing, so that it is now possible for any writer with a book to get it published at nominal cost or free, and to have it on sale at booksellers like Amazon.com."

Piers Anthony, English Writer

Internet, Now, Publishing, Self

50

"Poverty is an anomaly to rich people; it is very difficult to make out why people who want dinner do not ring the bell."

"Poverty is an anomaly to rich people; it is very difficult to make out why people who want dinner do not ring the bell."

Walter Bagehot, English Author

People, Poverty, Want

50

"Thou ought to be nice, even to superstition, in keeping thy promises, and therefore equally cautious in making them."

"Thou ought to be nice, even to superstition, in keeping thy promises, and therefore equally cautious in making them."

Thomas Fuller, English Clergyman

Promise, Promises, Superstition

50

"It hurts the spirit, somehow, to read the word environments, when the plural means that there are so many alternatives there to be sorted through, as in a market, and voted on."

"It hurts the spirit, somehow, to read the word environments, when the plural means that there are so many alternatives there to be sorted through, as in a market, and voted on."

Lewis Thomas, English Scientist

50

"I fought back, got injured again and I had to have another operation. I got down and depressed and I think I was drinking more than I should. Well, I know I was."

"I fought back, got injured again and I had to have another operation. I got down and depressed and I think I was drinking more than I should. Well, I know I was."

Paul Gascoigne, English Athlete

Alcohol, Drinking

50

"I had beautiful bikes and I was really into it. I just thought it was really glamorous."

"I had beautiful bikes and I was really into it. I just thought it was really glamorous."

Bryan Ferry, English Musician

50

"The scientific imagination always restrains itself within the limits of probability."

"The scientific imagination always restrains itself within the limits of probability."

Thomas Huxley, English Scientist

Imagination, Limits

50

"There is nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation."

"There is nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation."

John Ciardi, English Dramatist

Moderation, Nothing, Wrong

50

"I want to direct but I think I'd be bloody awful and I don't want to produce but I think I'd be a very good producer because if I believed in something I'd be able to protect it."

"I want to direct but I think I'd be bloody awful and I don't want to produce but I think I'd be a very good producer because if I believed in something I'd be able to protect it."

Christopher Eccleston, English Actor

50

"Guitar is great for a certain thing, but a piano is so much more expansive."

"Guitar is great for a certain thing, but a piano is so much more expansive."

Mick Ralphs, English Musician

50

"Clinton's hands remain incredibly clean, don't they, and Tony Blair's smile remains as wide as ever. I view these guises with profound contempt."

"Clinton's hands remain incredibly clean, don't they, and Tony Blair's smile remains as wide as ever. I view these guises with profound contempt."

Harold Pinter, English Dramatist

Contempt, Smile

50

"Well, it's wonderful to be identified strongly with my work."

"Well, it's wonderful to be identified strongly with my work."

Ben Kingsley, English Actor

50

"A beautiful woman must expect to be more accountable for her steps, than one less attractive."

"A beautiful woman must expect to be more accountable for her steps, than one less attractive."

Samuel Richardson, English Novelist

50

"I feel I've been blessed with a gift of creativity and composition. That's why I've been able to keep going."

"I feel I've been blessed with a gift of creativity and composition. That's why I've been able to keep going."

Robin Trower, English Musician

50

"Except a living man, there is nothing more wonderful than a book."

"Except a living man, there is nothing more wonderful than a book."

Charles Kingsley, English Clergyman

Living, Man, Nothing

50

"My pride fell with my fortunes."

"My pride fell with my fortunes."

William Shakespeare, English Dramatist

50

"I have always found it difficult to wait for things - whether it was to see my father or sailor brother, Alan, again after their long sea trips, or the chance of a better job, or even new curtains."

"I have always found it difficult to wait for things - whether it was to see my father or sailor brother, Alan, again after their long sea trips, or the chance of a better job, or even new curtains."

Anna Neagle, English Actress

Father, Brother, Chance, Job

50

"He said true things, but called them by wrong names."

"He said true things, but called them by wrong names."

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, English Poet

Truth, Names, Wrong

50

"All the best stories in the world are but one story in reality - the story of escape. It is the only thing which interests us all and at all times, how to escape."

"All the best stories in the world are but one story in reality - the story of escape. It is the only thing which interests us all and at all times, how to escape."

Walter Bagehot, English Author

50

"O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?"

"O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?"

Percy Bysshe Shelley, English Poet

Hope, Spring, Wind, Winter

50

"If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be."

"If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be."

John Heywood, English Dramatist

Experience, Circumstances, Force, May

50

"Early One Morning takes time and, I mean, all things like that I felt were very important."

"Early One Morning takes time and, I mean, all things like that I felt were very important."

Anthony Caro, English Sculptor

50

"The general fact of surplus value, namely that the workmen does not get the full value of his labours, and that he is taken advantage of by the capitalist, is obvious."

"The general fact of surplus value, namely that the workmen does not get the full value of his labours, and that he is taken advantage of by the capitalist, is obvious."

Edward Carpenter, English Activist

Fact, Obvious, Value

50

"No art can be noble which is incapable of expressing thought, and no art is capable of expressing thought which does not change."

"No art can be noble which is incapable of expressing thought, and no art is capable of expressing thought which does not change."

John Ruskin, English Writer

Art, Change, Thought

50

"I maintain the rather old-fashioned view that this is my work and it's in the public arena, but that doesn't entitle everyone to know what happened at home before coming here."

"I maintain the rather old-fashioned view that this is my work and it's in the public arena, but that doesn't entitle everyone to know what happened at home before coming here."

Francesca Annis, English Actress

Home, Work, Old, Public

50

"I do like a little romance... just a sniff, as I call it, of the rocks and valleys. Of course, bread-and-cheese is the real thing. The rocks and valleys are no good at all, if you haven't got that."

"I do like a little romance... just a sniff, as I call it, of the rocks and valleys. Of course, bread-and-cheese is the real thing. The rocks and valleys are no good at all, if you haven't got that."

Anthony Trollope, English Author

Romantic, Romance

50

"It is a good rule in life never to apologize. The right sort of people do not want apologies, and the wrong sort take a mean advantage of them."

"It is a good rule in life never to apologize. The right sort of people do not want apologies, and the wrong sort take a mean advantage of them."

P. G. Wodehouse, English Writer

Life, People, Apologies, Right

50

"I've never done a big studio film, I've only ever done little ones."

"I've never done a big studio film, I've only ever done little ones."

Brenda Blethyn, English Actress

50

"Of the 25 songs we've recorded there were 24 that we wanted to have on an album. That wouldn't have worked. So when one of our wise managers suggested the idea of considering two different album, it cleared the way for us."

"Of the 25 songs we've recorded there were 24 that we wanted to have on an album. That wouldn't have worked. So when one of our wise managers suggested the idea of considering two different album, it cleared the way for us."

Ed O'Brien, English Musician

Idea, Managers, Songs

50

"No, it's a Bb. It looks wrong and it sounds wrong, but it's right."

"No, it's a Bb. It looks wrong and it sounds wrong, but it's right."

Ralph Vaughan Williams, English Composer

50

"How very little can be done under the spirit of fear."

"How very little can be done under the spirit of fear."

Florence Nightingale, English Activist

50

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