Hilaire Belloc Quotes

Of all fatiguing, futile, empty trades, the worst, I suppose, is writing about writing.

Oh, you should never, never doubt what nobody is sure about.

Just as there is nothing between the admirable omelet and the intolerable, so with autobiography.

It is the best of all trades, to make songs, and the second best to sing them.

Dear Grandmamma, with what we give. We humbly pray that you may live. For many, many happy years: Although you bore us all to tears.

I forget the name of the place; I forget the name of the girl; but the wine was Chambertin.

[A]lways keep a-hold of Nurse For fear of finding something worse

There are few greater temptations on earth than to stay permanently at Oxford in meditation, and to read all the books in the Bodlean.

For every time she shouted "Fire!" They only answered "Little liar!" And therefore when her aunt returned, Matilda, and the house, were burned.

Be at the pains of putting down every single item of expenditure whatsoever every day which could possibly be twisted into a professional expense and remember to lump in all the doubtfulls.

But scientists, who ought to know Assure us that it must be so. Oh, let us never, never doubt What nobody is sure about.

The machine does not control the mind of man, though it affects the mind of man; it is the mind of man that can and should control the machine.

The accursed power which stands on privilege( and goes with women, champagne and bridge) Broke - and democracy resumed her reign ( which goes with bridge and women and champagne.

Remote and ineffectual don.

[Heresy is] the dislocation of a complete and self-supporting scheme by the introduction of a novel denial of some essential part therein.

We cannot make owners by merely giving men something to own. And, I repeat, whether there be sufficient desire for property left upon which we can work, only experience can decide.

I said to Heart, "How goes it?" Heart replied: "Right as a Ribstone Pippin!" But it lied.

For no one, in our long decline, So dusty, spiteful and divided, Had quite such pleasant friends as mine, Or loved them half as much as I did.

Protest against Industrial Capitalism from one aspect or another is universal: so was the protest against the condition of European religion at the beginning of the sixteenth century.

The moment a man talks to his fellows he begins to lie.

If we are to be happy, decent and secure of our souls: drink some kind of fermented liquor with one's food; go on the water from time to time; dance on occasions, and sing in a chorus.

It is sometimes necessary to lie damnably in the interests of the nation.

When people call this beast to mind, They marvel more and more At such a little tail behind, So large a trunk before.

The larger unit can borrow more easily in proportion than the smaller. It can especially tap bank credit more easily and bank credit is, to-day, the chief factor in economic activity of all kinds.

Whatever happens, we have got The Maxim gun, and they have not.

Be content to remember that those who can make omelettes properly can do nothing else.

The Devil, having nothing else to do Went off to tempt my Lady Poltagrue. My Lady, tempted by a private whim, To his extreme annoyance, tempted him.

How slow the shadow creeps: but when 'tis past How fast the shadows fall. How fast! How fast!

Torture will give a dozen pence or more To keep a drab from bawling at his door. The public taste is quite a different thing Torture is positively paid to sing.

Of courtesy, it is much less Than courage of heart or holiness, Yet in my walks it seems to me That the Grace of God is in courtesy.

You are my cat, and I am your human.

Of old when folk lay sick and sorely tried The doctors gave them physic, and they died. But here's a happier age: for now we know Both how to make men sick and keep them so.

Kings live in Palaces, and Pigs in sties, And youth in Expectation. Youth is wise.

I'm tired of love I'm still more tired of rhyme but money gives me pleasure all the time.

Just as there is nothing between the admirable omelette and the intolerable so with autobiography.

For I know that we laughers have a gross cousinship with the most high, and it is this contrast and perpetual quarrel which feeds a spring of merriment in the soul of a sane man.

The llama is a woolly sort of fleecy hairy goat With an indolent expression and an undulating throat - Like an unsuccessful literary man.

When I am dead I hope it may be said: 'His sins were scarlet but his books were read.'

It is the best of all trades to make songs and the second best to sing them.

Physicians of the Utmost Fame were called at once but when they came they answered as they took their fees 'There is no cure for this disease.'

The llama is a woolly sort of fleecy hairy goat with an indolent expression and an undulating throat like an unsuccessful literary man.

Oh! Let us never never doubt What nobody is sure about.

When I am dead, I hope it may be said, 'His sins were scarlet, but his books were read.

There's nothing worth the wear of winning but laughter and the love of friends.

Write as the wind blows and command all words like an army!

A microbe is so very small You cannot make him out at all.

Whatever happens, we have gotThe Maxim gun, and they have not.