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Patrick O'Brian
8 quotes
“Come," he said, taking her by the hand and leading her to a distant sopha, "come and sit by me, and let us talk of bats.”
Patrick O'Brian (1914–2000) first seen 1959 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Unknown Shore (1959).
“And pray, what in sea language is meant by a ship?" "She must have three square-rigged masts, sir," they told him kindly, "and a bowsprit; and the masts must be in three - lower, top and topgallant - for we never call a polacre a ship.”
Patrick O'Brian (1914–2000) first seen 1970 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Master and Commander (1970)
“... He is not very sharp in some ways; and in his simple view of the world, paederasts are dangerous only to powder-monkeys and choir boys, or to those epicene creatures that are to be found in Mediterranean brothels. I made circuitous attempt at enlightening him a little, but he looked very knowing and said, 'Don't tell me about rears and vices; I have been in the Navy all my life.'" "Then surely he must be wanting a little in penetration?" "James, I trust there was no mens rea in that remark?”
Patrick O'Brian (1914–2000) first seen 1970 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Master and Commander (1970) ("rears and vices" is O'Brian's homage to Jane Austen's Mansfield Park)
“But you know as well as I, patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is infamous, or my country is always right, which is imbecile.”
Patrick O'Brian (1914–2000) first seen 1970 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Master and Commander (1970)
“This short watch that is about to come, or rather these two short watches--why are they called dog watches? Where, heu, heu, is the canine connection?" "Why," said Stephen, "it is because they are curtailed of course.”
Patrick O'Brian (1914–2000) first seen 1972 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Post Captain (1972)
“Jack,you have debauched my sloth.”
Patrick O'Brian (1914–2000) first seen 1973 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: HMS Surprise (1973)
“My God, oh my God," he said. "Six hundred men.”
Patrick O'Brian (1914–2000) first seen 1979 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Desolation Island (1979)
“Other people's marriages are a perpetual source of amazement.”
Patrick O'Brian (1914–2000) first seen 1995 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Commodore (1995)