Quotes Library

April 16, 2025

To knock a thing down, especially if it is cocked at an arrogant angle, is a deep delight of the blood.

George Santayana, 1863-1962, Spanish-born American philosopher, The Portable Curmudgeon, Jon Winokur, ed. (New York: 1987), p.8

Which things, cocked at the angle here specified, would you most enjoy knocking down?

The watchword is caution! If possible, leave no fingerprints. The depth of delight is doubled if the knocked-down party knows not whom to blame!


More Quotes

December 20, 2025
Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence;
September 26, 2025
It is better to abolish serfdom from above than to wait for it to abolish itself from below.
March 20, 2025
No more distressing moment can ever face a British government than that which requires it to come to a hard, fast and specific decision.
Page 92 of 122