Familiar Quotations

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

16732

Title

Familiar Quotations

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This reference volume collects familiar quotations from the Bible, classical literature, and English poetry, tracing the origins of common phrases. With complete indices of authors and subjects, it serves as a convenient book of reference for understanding the obligations of language to various writers.

Summary up to 500 words

Originally compiled without an intention of publication, this extensive collection has been significantly enlarged to include additions from a similar English work. The text serves as a comprehensive index of literary allusions, aiming to demonstrate the origins of 'household words' and the obligations language owes to various authors. By taking quotations directly from original sources, the work prioritizes accuracy over convenience, offering readers a reliable reference to trace common expressions back to their specific authors and texts. The compilation begins with the Holy Scriptures, presenting a vast array of familiar phrases from both the Old and New Testaments. It includes well-known biblical concepts such as the 'eye for an eye' from Deuteronomy, the 'apple of his eye' from Kings, and the 'still, small voice' from Kings. The collection also incorporates phrases from the Common Prayer, such as 'In the midst of life we are in death' and 'Read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest.' Proceeding from scripture, the text lists thousands of phrases attributed to a diverse range of authors spanning centuries. The roster includes classical and early modern figures like Addison, Bacon, Shakespeare, and Wordsworth, alongside contemporaries such as Byron, Keats, and Tennyson. Each entry typically provides the full quote, its precise source citation, and often a brief context or attribution. The work functions as an extensive guide, allowing readers to understand the history of common expressions, from the Bible's 'eye for an eye' to Shakespeare's 'all the world's a stage.' The significance of this collection lies in its ability to illuminate the literary heritage embedded in everyday speech. It reveals how phrases like 'the foxes have holes,' 'a city set upon a hill,' and 'the wolf shall dwell with the lamb' have permeated culture through the works of sacred texts and literary giants. By cataloging these references, the book provides a convenient book of reference that enriches the reader's understanding of language, showing how specific authors have shaped the vocabulary of the household.

LLM editorial rating

4.5/5

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Categories

• Quotations