W. S. Gilbert

Quotes

• “Now landsmen all whoever you may be If you want to rise to the top of the tree. If your soul isn't fettered to an offi...”
• “Perhaps if you address the lady Most politely most politely Flatter and impress the lady Most politely most politely ...”
• “For he might have been a Rooshian A French or Turk or Proosian Or perhaps Italian. But in spite of all temptations To b...”
• “If you wish in this world to advance Your merits you're bound to enhance You must stir it and stump it And blow your o...”
• “Oh I am a cook and a captain bold And the mate of the Nancy brig And a bo'sun tight and a midshipmate And the crew of ...”
• “And so do his sisters and his cousins and his aunts! His sisters and his cousins Whom he reckons up by dozens And his a...”
• “See how the Fates their gifts allot. For A is happy - B is not. Yet B is worthy I dare say Of more prosperity than A.”
• “And whether you're an honest man or whether you're a thief depends on whose solicitor has given me my brief.”
• “Of that there is no manner of doubt - No probable possible shadow of doubt - No possible doubt whatever.”
• “When every blessed thing you have is made of silver or of gold you long for simple pewter.”
• “You must stir it and stump it and blow your own trumpet or trust me you haven't a chance.”
• “No one can have a higher opinion of him than I have - and I think he's a dirty little beast.”
• “My object all sublime I shall achieve in time - To let the punishment fit the crime.”
• “I always voted at my party's call And I never thought of thinking for myself at all.”
• “You've no idea what a poor opinion I have of myself - and how little I deserve it.”
• “Darwinian Man though well-behaved At best is only a monkey shaved!”
• “Things are seldom what they seem Skim milk masquerades as cream.”
• “I am not fond of uttering platitudes In stained-glass attitudes.”
• “A source of innocent merriment! Of innocent merriment.”
• “He did nothing in particular And did it very well.”
• “Did nothing in particular and did it very well.”
• “Did nothing in particular And did it very well.”
• “As innocent as a new-laid egg.”