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"Ten acres and a mule."
Topic: Agriculture
Source: American phrase indicating the expectations of emancipated slaves
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Asylum of the oppressed of every nation.
Topic: America
Source: phrase used in the Democratic platform of 1856, referring to the U.S.
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O, Columbia, the gem of the ocean,
The home of the brave and the free,
The shrine of each patriot's devotion,
A world offers homage to them.
Topic: America
Source: a adaptation of Shaw's "Britannia"
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We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,
provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and
secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Prosperity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States
of America.
Topic: America
Source: Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America
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My toast would be, may our country always be successful, but
whether successful or otherwise, always right.
Topic: America
Source: Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America
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The cattle upon a thousand hills.
Topic: Animals
Source: Psalms (l. 10)
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A cat will look down to a man. A dog will look up to a man. But
a pig will look you straight in the eye and see his equal.
Topic: Animals
Source: Psalms (l. 10)
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John Lee is dead, that good old man,--
We ne'er shall see him more:
He used to wear an old drab coat
All buttoned down before.
Topic: Apparel
Source: in Matherne Churchyard, to John Lee's memory, who died May 21, 1823
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She who from April dates her years,
Diamonds should wear, lest bitter tears
For vain repentance flow; this stone,
Emblem of innocence is known.
Topic: April
Source: April, in "Notes and Queries", May 11, 1889, p. 371
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The first of April, some do say
Is set apart for All Fools' day;
But why the people call it so,
Nor I, nor they themselves, do know.
Topic: April
Source: Poor Robin's Almanac--All Fools' Day
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Tell me, shepherds, have you seen
My Flora pass this way?
In shape and feature Beauty's queen,
In pastoral array.
Topic: Beauty
Source: The Wreath, from "The Lyre"
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I call the Living--I mourn the Dead--
I break the Lightning.
Topic: Bells
Source: inscribed on the Great Bell of the Minister of Schaffhausen
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Medicine for the soul.
Topic: Books
Source: Diodorus Siculus (I, 49, 3), inscription over the door of the Library at Thebes
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Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact
that it should be played not only within its Laws but also within
the Spirit of the Game.
Topic: Books (First Lines)
Source: The Laws of Cricket
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1a \'a\ n, pl a's or as \'az\ often cap, often attrib (bef. 12c) 1
a : the 1st letter of the English alphabet b : a representation
of this letter c : a speech counterpart of orthographic a 2 : the
6th tone of a C-major scale 3 : a graphic device for reproducing
the letter a 4 : one designated a esp. as the 1st in order or
class 5 a : a grade rating a student's work as superior in
quality b : one graded or rated with an A 6 : something shaped
like the letter A
- Unattributed Author,
Topic: Books (First Lines)
Source: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (10th edition)
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Baseball is a game between two teams of nine players each, under
direction of a manager, played on an enclosed field in accordance
with these rules, under jurisdiction of one or more umpires.
Topic: Books (First Lines)
Source: Official Rules of Baseball, Rule 1.01
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Solid men of Boston, make no long orations;
Solid men of Boston, drink no long potations;
Solid men of Boston, go to bed at sundown;
Never lose your way like the loggerheads of London.
Topic: Boston
Source: Billy Pitt and the Farmer, printed in "Asylum for Fugitive Pieces" without author's name
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Gently running made sweet music with the enameled stones and
seemed to give a gentle kiss to every sedge he overtook in his
watery pilgrimage.
Topic: Brooks
Source: Seven Champions (pt. III, ch. XII)
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A blind bargain.
Topic: Business
Source: Merrie Tales of the Madmen of Gottam
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Nation of shopkeepers.
Topic: Business
Source: Merrie Tales of the Madmen of Gottam
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A cat may look like a king.
Topic: Cats
Source: title of a Pamphlet
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There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us,
That it ill behoves any of us
To find fault with the rest of us.
Topic: Character
Source: sometimes attributed to R.L. Stevenson, Kansas Gov. Hoch, E.T. Fowler, and others
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She was and is (what can there more be said?)
On earth the first, in heaven the second maid.
Topic: Character
Source: Tribute to Queen Elizabeth, Manuscript 4712 in British Museum
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The children in Holland take pleasure in making
What the children in England take pleasure in breaking.
Topic: Childhood
Source: Old Nursery Rhyme
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Odd instances of strange coincidence.
Topic: Circumstance
Source: Queen Caroline's Advocate in the House of Lords, on her association with Bergami
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Happy am I; from care I'm free!
Why aren't they all contented like me?
Topic: Content
Source: Opera of La Bayadere
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Great pity were it if this beneficence of Providence should be
marr'd in the ordering, so as to justly merit the Reflection of
the old proverb, that though God sends us meat, yet the D------
does cooks.
Topic: Cookery
Source: Cooks' and Confectioners' Dictionary, or the Accomplished Housewife's Companions, London
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Every investigation which is guided by principles of nature fixes
its ultimate aim entirely on gratifying the stomach.
Topic: Cookery
Source: Cooks' and Confectioners' Dictionary, or the Accomplished Housewife's Companions, London
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"Be bold!" first gate; "Be bold, be bold, and evermore be bold,"
second gate; "Be not too bold!" third gate.
Topic: Courage
Source: inscription on the Gates of Busyrane
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Only last night he felt deadly sick, and, after a great deal of
pain, two black crows flew out of his mouth and took wing from
the room.
Topic: Crows
Source: Gesta Romanorum (tale XLV)
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To shoot at crows is powder flung away.
Topic: Crows
Source: Gesta Romanorum (tale XLV)
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Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day! For it is Life,
The very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the Varieties
And Realities of your Existence;
The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And Tomorrow is only a Vision;
But Today well lived
Makes every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of Dawn.
Topic: Day
Source: Salutation of the Dawn, from the Sanscrit
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Mors sceptra ligonibus aequat.
(Death levels sceptre and the law.)
Topic: Death
Source: inscribed over a 14th century mural painting once at Battle Church, Sussex
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Death's pale flag advanced in his cheeks.
Topic: Death
Source: Seven Champions (pt. III, ch. XI)
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Go thou, deceased, to this earth which is a mother, and spacious
and kind. May her touch be soft like that of wool, or a young
woman, and may she protect thee from the depths of destruction.
Rise above him, O Earth, do not press painfully on him, give him
good things, give him consolation, as a mother covers her child
with her cloth, cover thou him.
Topic: Death
Source: Vedic Funeral Rite, quoted in the "New York Times" on the death of Buffalo Bill
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Death is a black camel, which kneels at the gates of all.
Topic: Death
Source: Vedic Funeral Rite, quoted in the "New York Times" on the death of Buffalo Bill
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If cold December gave you birth,
The month of snow and ice and mirth,
Place on you hand a Turquoise blue,
Success will bless whate'er you do.
Topic: December
Source: December, in "Notes and Queries", May 11, 1889, p. 371
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Truly some men there be
That live always in great horrour,
And say it goeth by destiny
To hang or wed: both hath one hour;
And whether it be, I am well sure,
Hanging is better of the twain;
Sooner done, and shorter pain.
Topic: Destiny
Source: The School-house, published about 1542
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When treading London's well-known ground
If e'er I feel my spirits tire,
I haul my sail, look up around,
In search of Whitbread's best entire.
- Unattributed Author,
Topic: Drinking
Source: from "The Myrtle and the Vine"--A Complete Vocal Library--A Pot of Porter, Ho!
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And I wish his soul in heaven may dwell,
Who first invented this leathern bottel!
Topic: Drinking
Source: Leathern Bottel
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Drinking will make a man quaff,
Quaffing will make a man sing,
Singing will make a man laugh,
And laughing long life doth bring,
Says old Simon the King.
- Unattributed Author, Old Sir Simon the King,
Topic: Drinking
Source: Old Sir Simon the King, referring to Simon Wadloe, tavern-keeper at the "Devil," Fleet Street, about
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Jesus Christ is risen to-day,
Our triumphant holy day;
Who did once upon the cross
Suffer to redeem our loss.
Hallelujah!
Topic: Easter
Source: Jesus Christ is Risen To-day, from a Latin hymn of the 15th century (translator unknown)
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If the end be well, all will be well.
[Lat., Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit.]
Topic: End
Source: Gestoe Romanorum (tale LXVII)
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It ain't over till it's over.
Topic: End
Source: Gestoe Romanorum (tale LXVII)
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Those pigmy tribes of Panton street,
Those hardy blades, those hearts of oak,
Obedient to a tyrant's yoke.
Topic: England
Source: A Monstrous good Lounge (p. 5)
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The Channel is that silver strip of sea which severs merry
England from the tardy realms of Europe.
Topic: English Channel
Source: in the "Church and State Review", Apr. 1, 1863
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Acon his right, Leonilla her left eye
Doth want; yet each in form, the gods out-vie.
Sweet boy, with thine, thy sister's sight improved:
So shall she Venus be, thou God of Love.
[Lat., Lumine Acon dextre,--capta est Leonilla sinistre,
Et potis est forma vincere uterque dees:
Blande puer, lumen quod habes concede sorori,
Sic tu caecus Amor, sic erit illa Venus.]
Topic: Epigrams
Source: an epigram said by Warton to be the "most celebrated of modern epigrams", in his "Essay on Pope," I,
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The diamond's virtues well might grace
The epigram, and both excel
In brilliancy in smallest space,
And power to cut as well.
Topic: Epigrams
Source: an epigram said by Warton to be the "most celebrated of modern epigrams", in his "Essay on Pope," I,
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This picture, plac'd the busts between
Gives Satire all its strength;
Wisdom and Wit are little seen
While Folly glares at length.
Topic: Epigrams
Source: an epigram said by Warton to be the "most celebrated of modern epigrams", in his "Essay on Pope," I,
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The rise of every man he loved to trace,
Up to the very pod O!
And, in baboons, our parent race
Was found by old Monboddo.
Their A, B, C, he made them speak,
And learn their qui, quae, quod, O!
Till Hebrew, Latin, Welsh, and Greek
They knew as well's Monboddo!
Topic: Evolution
Source: ballad in "Blackwood's Mag" referring to monkey theory of James Burnett (Lord Monboddo)
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