The Wordsworth Dictionary of Quotations


Book Description

Quotations have exercised a particular fascination for humanity since the birth of recorded language and their potency in the age of the soundbite is stronger than ever. We revel in quotations, compete to know them, love them, hate them and inscribe them in books and on buildings, and this freshly revised and updated dictionary includes a wealth of new material among its 13,000 familiar, serious, outrageous, witty and thought-provoking entries.The Wordsworth Dictionary of Quotations is an essential work of reference for every writer, journalist and speech-maker, as well as being a treasure-trove for the browser and the simply curious. From the Roman poet Ovid's observation that 'Judgement of beauty can er, what with the wine and the dark' to Oscar Wilde's that 'Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes', there is a wide diversity of sayings to add spice to our conversation and enrich our daily lives. The book is alphabetically arranged by author and indexed by keyword for ease of use.




The Wordsworth Dictionary of Quotations


Book Description

Quotations have exercised a particular fascination for humanity since the birth of recorded langauge, and their potency in the age of the soundbite is stronger than ever. This revised and updated dictionary includes a wealth of new material among its 13,000 familiar, serious, outrageous, witty and thought-provoking entries. From the Roman poet Ovid's observation judgement of beauty can err, what with wine and the dark to Oscar Wilde's that experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes, there is a wide diversity of sayings to add spice to conversation and enrich daily lives. The dictionary is alphabetically arranged by author and indexed by keyword for easy reference.




Book of Humorous Quotations


Book Description

From Oscar Wilde's witty observation in Lady Windermere's Fan that 'I can resist everything except temptation', to Zsa Zsa Gabor's admission that 'I know nothing about sex, because I was always married', and by way of Woody Allen's numerous bon mots to the anonymous definition of psychiatry as being 'the care of the id by the odd', Connie Robertson has woven together a hilarious, stimulating and thought-provoking collection of the best humorous quotations which will provide the reader with much to ponder over long after the book has been put aside.The Wordsworth Book of Humorous Quotations will delight the browser and the simply curious while also providing the student, journalist and after-dinner speaker with a wealth of valuable material.







Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable


Book Description

This work explains the origins of the familiar and the unfamiliar in everyday speech and literature, including the colloquial and the proverbial. It embraces archaeology, history, religion, the arts, science, mythology and characters from fiction.




Words on Words


Book Description

From Homer ("winged words") to Robert Burns ("Beware a tongue that's smoothly hung") to Rudyard Kipling ("Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind"), writers from all over the world have put pen to paper on the inexhaustible topic of language. Yet surprisingly, their writings on the subject have never been gathered in a single volume. In Words on Words, David and Hilary Crystal have collected nearly 5,000 quotations about language and all its intriguing aspects: speaking, reading, writing, translation, verbosity, usage, slang, and more. As the stock-in-trade of so many professions—orators, media personalities, writers, and countless others—language's appeal as a subject is extraordinarily relevant and wide-ranging. The quotations are grouped thematically under 65 different headings, from "The Nature of Language" through the "Language of Politics" to "Quoting and Misquoting." This arrangement enables the reader to explore a topic through a variety of lenses, ancient and modern, domestic and foreign, scientific and casual, ironic and playful. Three thorough indexes—to authors, sources, and key words—provide different entry points into the collection. A valuable resource for professional writers and scholars, Words on Words is for anyone who loves language and all things linguistic.




The New Yale Book of Quotations


Book Description

A revised, enlarged, and updated edition of this authoritative and entertaining reference book —named the #2 essential home library reference book by the Wall Street Journal “Shapiro does original research, earning [this] volume a place on the quotation shelf next to Bartlett's and Oxford's.”—William Safire, New York Times Magazine (on the original edition) “A quotations book with footnotes that are as fascinating to read as the quotes themselves.”—Arthur Spiegelman, Washington Post Book World (on the original edition) Updated to include more than a thousand new quotations, this reader-friendly volume contains over twelve thousand famous quotations, arranged alphabetically by author and sourced from literature, history, popular culture, sports, digital culture, science, politics, law, the social sciences, and all other aspects of human activity. Contemporaries added to this edition include Beyoncé, Sandra Cisneros, James Comey, Drake, Louise Glück, LeBron James, Brett Kavanaugh, Lady Gaga, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Barack Obama, John Oliver, Nancy Pelosi, Vladimir Putin, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, and David Foster Wallace. The volume also reflects path-breaking recent research resulting in the updating of quotations from the first edition with more accurate wording or attribution. It has also incorporated noncontemporary quotations that have become relevant to the present day. In addition, The New Yale Book of Quotations reveals the striking fact that women originated many familiar quotations, yet their roles have been forgotten and their verbal inventions have often been credited to prominent men instead. This book’s quotations, annotations, extensive cross-references, and large keyword index will satisfy both the reader who seeks specific information and the curious browser who appreciates an amble through entertaining pages.




Why Do We Quote?


Book Description

Quoting is all around us. But do we really know what it means? How do people actually quote today, and how did our present systems come about? This book brings together a down-to-earth account of contemporary quoting with an examination of the comparative and historical background that lies behind it and the characteristic way that quoting links past and present, the far and the near.Drawing from anthropology, cultural history, folklore, cultural studies, sociolinguistics, literary studies and the ethnography of speaking, Ruth Finnegan 's fascinating study sets our present conventions into crosscultural and historical perspective. She traces the curious history of quotation marks, examines the long tradition of quotation collections with their remarkable recycling across the centuries, and explores the uses of quotation in literary, visual and oral traditions. The book tracks the changing defi nitions and control of quoting over the millennia and in doing so throws new light on ideas such as imitation, allusion, authorship, originality and plagiarism .




The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Quotations


Book Description

Now available as part of the Oxford Paperback Reference series, this new expanded edition of Peter Kemp's acclaimed collection illuminates the world of the writer, from classical literature to crime fiction and from the quill to the PC. Organized by subject, it includes topics ranging from Tools of the Trade and Writer's Block to Ghost Stories and Critics. Shakespeare, Shaw, and Johnson have their say, but authors also include Alice Munro on Illustration and Pushkin on Earning a Living, A. D. Hope on Fables and Fairytales, Rimbaud on Baudelaire and Harold Pinter on Omission. New themes in this edition include Graffiti and Epitaphs, and there are many more quotations by writers on other writers: Ben Okri on Cervantes, Walter de la Mare on Lewis Carroll, and Philip Roth on William Faulkner. The long uphill struggle in playwriting is getting to the top of page one. - Tom Stoppard I'd love to write a book a year, but I don't think I'd have any fans. - Donna Tartt Lads don't write novels. They're down the pub. - Martin Amis on Ladlit You reach an age when every sentence you write bumps into one you wrote thirty years ago. - John Updike Reading . . . is a strenuous and pleasurable contact sport. - Maureen Howard There were no innocent blondes in crime fiction. - Ed McBain Never make your publisher pay the postage is the first rule of literary life. - Julian Barnes




Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources


Book Description

Discover the power of words with the "Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources" by James Wood. This remarkable compilation offers an extensive collection of quotes that capture the essence of human thought, emotion, and experience across cultures and time periods. As you explore this treasure trove of wisdom, consider this: What profound insights might inspire you in your daily life from the voices of the past? Wood meticulously curates a diverse array of quotations, showcasing the brilliance of thinkers, writers, and leaders from various backgrounds. Each entry not only provides the quote but also its source, offering readers a deeper understanding of its context and significance. This dictionary serves as an essential reference for anyone seeking to enrich their writing, speeches, or conversations with powerful expressions. The collection spans numerous themes, from love and wisdom to humor and resilience, making it an invaluable tool for inspiration. Are you ready to tap into the collective wisdom of humanity in "Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources"? Engage with a resource that transcends language barriers and invites you to reflect on the thoughts that have shaped our world. These quotations are not merely words; they are echoes of the human spirit and its pursuit of understanding. This is your opportunity to enhance your expression and ignite your creativity. Will you embrace the wisdom of the ages and discover the perfect words for every occasion? Don’t miss out on owning this comprehensive collection. Purchase "Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources" now, and let the voices of the past illuminate your present!