where_away | Entries tagged with quotes

"(Stephen) went to his cabin below, his mind still somewhat confused by happiness, and found that in spite of everything Killick had laid out all the clothes that were proper for him to wear. He slowly dressed, taking particular care of the set of his coat, and came out into the gun-room where he found Pullings, sitting carefully in the gold-laced splendour of a commander. ..

'Now, Doctor,' Pullings went on, 'it is time for me to run an eye over all; and perhaps for you to put your breeches on.'
'God save you, Tom,' cried Stephen, looking with concern at his pale bony knees. 'I am so glad you noticed it. My mind must have wandered. I should have got the ship a worse name still.' "

(Nutmeg of Consolation) Chapter 10.

Dear Stephen! He never has much thought for his clothes at the best of times, and having just heard of the longed-for birth of his daughter, it is the furthest thing from his mind now. Thank heavens for Tom Pullings.

esteven

And some of them are very mere rakes," says he, piercing me through and through with that damned cold eye of his,' said Jack, filling Stephen's glass and spreading himself comfortably along the locker

(chapter four)

I should not be surprised, having read through the books several times, but it continues to amaze me how very early we find quotes of the slashy kind. I mean, first getting Stephen to loosen up by filling his glass and then spreading himself. I am sure the doctor took the hint

esteven

We have already collected wonderful scenes and quotes here, mainly for our continued pleasure, and partially so that dear

alltoseek does not always have to engage her awesome finding powers. *g*

But what of those quotes that –though short- remind us of long scenes, may even move us to smile or sniffle, and where we know exactly where they are?

Let me give you some examples that you surely know intimately well:

The music-room in the Governor's House at Port Mahon, a tall, handsome, pillared octagon, was filled with the triumphant first movement of Locatelli's C major quartet

'Come, brother,'said Stephen in his ear, very like a dream.'Come below.

Stephen saw them walk into his timeless dream: they had been there before, but never together.

Off Hats

Would you know any more of quotes like these? Please post them here. :D

esteven

'Never,' said Jack. 'Sex has never entered my mind, at any time.'

(chapter eight)

heather_mist

Stephen said, ‘Will I tell you another of Plato’s observations?’
‘Pray do,’ said Jack, his smile briefly returning.
‘It should please you, since you have a very pretty hand. Hinksey quoted it when I dined with him in London and we were discussing the bill of fare: “Calligraphy,” says Plato, “is the physical manifestation of an architecture of the soul.” That being so, mine must be a turf-and-wattle kind of soul, since my handwriting must be disowned by a backward cat; whereas yours, particularly on your charts, has a most elegant flow and clarity, the outward form of a soul that might have conceived the Parthenon.’ (TC Chapter 6)

This is one of my favourite quotes because I like using fountain pens, dip pens, and inks for writing - a far more civilised method of creating than the utility of a computer keyboard. Sadly however I have far too much affinity with Stephen's handwriting than I would like, although I long to have Jack's 'elegant flow and clarity'. A backward cat would probably laugh at my attempts.

feroxargentea

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esteven

'Jack,' he said, as they walked along the rim of the crater to a point where they could hail the ship, 'did you reflect upon Ganymede at all?'
'Yes,' said Jack. '1 was up with him all last night, and should be this night were it not for the Sultan's visit tomorrow. Such an endearing little pale golden body as he peeps out - he is easily my favourite. But I shall still have him almost all night, once the Sultan is done with.'
'Shall you, though?' said Stephen, looking at his friend's pleased, well-fed face, rather more florid than usual from the Sultan's wine; and after a pause, 'Brother, can we be talking of the same thing?'
'I should hope so,' said Jack, smiling. 'Jupiter is in opposition, you know. Nobody could have missed his splendour.'
'No, indeed: a very glorious sight. And Ganymede is connected with him, I collect?'
'Of course he is - the prettiest of the satellites. What a fellow you are, Stephen.'
'How well named. But I meant another Ganymede, the Sultan's cup-bearer. Did you notice him?'
'Well, yes, I did. I said to myself, Why, damn my eyes, there is a girl. But then I remembered that there would be no girls at a feast like that, so I returned to my excellent haunch of venison, no bigger than a hare's, but uncommon well-tasting. Why do you call him Ganymede?'
'Ganymede was Jupiter's cup-bearer; and I believe their connexion, their relations, their friendship, would now be frowned upon. But I use the name loosely, as it is so often used: I mean no reflexion upon the Sultan.'

(chapter six of TGS)

I feel O'Brian has never led his readers up the garden path so well. :D It is easily my favourite piece of conversation.

heather_mist

Chapter Three

He is a poor, short, bent, meagre, ill-looking little creature, very like. . . that is to say, you are the only grown person aboard whose clothes would fit him. You shall have them back of course, as soon as he can whip up something to appear on the quarterdeck in.'
'Killick,' called Stephen, barely raising his voice, since he knew that their valuable common servant was listening behind the door - Killick had something of a cold in his chest and his heavy breathing could have been heard at a far greater distance.
'Killick, be so good as to bring a respectable white shirt, the blue coat whose button you were replacing, a neck-cloth, a pair of duck trousers, stockings, shoes - buckled shoes - and a handkerchief.'
Killick opened his mouth: but to Captain Aubrey's astonishment he shut it again, paused, said, 'Aye-aye, sir: respectable white shirt it is, the blue coat, neck-cloth, ducks, stockings, buckled shoes, wipe,' and hurried away.

All of this passage is lovely - for Jack's unvarnished opinion of Stephen lack of physical attributes, stopping only just in time from being downright rude (but really not quite...), for Stephen accepting it with such equanimity but most of all, I just love the hilarity of this piece and in particular Stephen not even bothering to raise his voice to talk to Killick because he knows he is listening anyway and the absolute acceptance by everyone concerned - Stephen, Jack and Killick that of course he would be listening!

A beautifully realised scene between three people who have known each other such a very long time and so intimately well that they none of them need be terribly polite to each other.

sid

"What a joy it is to satisfy desire," observed Jack when all was done. He emptied his glass, threw down his napkin, and said, "Will you not turn in now, Stephen? It is very late."

(chapter 4)

heather_mist

"'She has a lovely body still, in spite of these children.' said Diana. 'But what is the use of a lovely body if neither you nor anyone else enjoys it?'"

Diana to Stephen about Sophie

The Yellow Admiral Chapter Eight

heather_mist

Like it says on the icon:

"'Then be damned to you for a hard ill-natured and pitiless unforgiving shrew,' he said, anger rising at last, and he walked out leaving (Sophie) bowed over the miserable letters, utterly appalled by his words and her own."

The Yellow Admiral The final words of Ch 6

Which became too long winded to say in general discussion, and so became a word in its own right: 'hinapus!'