Reference : Quotations

Scotland has had its fair share of comedians, both professional and self-styled, but the wit of Scotland is not traditionally of the ha-ha, belly-laugh variety. It's rather of the understated, wry-smile type, known in Scotland as 'pawkie' humour. The Concise Scots Dictionary defines 'pawkie' as having a matter-of-fact, humorously critical outlook on life, characterized by a sly, quiet wit and this sums it up very well. Alas, this dry stryle of humour has the disadvantage that, unlike the obvious joke, it can go unnoticed. It's partly for this reason that the Scots have acquired a reputation for being dour or humourless, but often the fault has been with the hearers not recognizing wit when it was presented to them. There is less need to explain the wisdom of the Scots, since Scotland, especially considering its size, has produced over the centuries a great number of people who have made a significant contribution to the shaping of the world. These have included people from a wide range of disciplines, such as poets, philosophers, novelists, artists, architects, engineers, explorers, doctors, scientists and so on, and the thoughts of some of these are included in the selection of sayings and quotations in this book. more...

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Taking its title from the moving lyrics of the official song of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 'Lift Every Voice and Sing', Till Victory Is Won chronicles significant moments in African-American history through more than two hundred illuminating quotations from NAACP officers, members, and award recipients. more...

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In Bartlett's Familiar Quotations , the premier collection of noted sayings, Mark Twain is the only American with more citations under his name than Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR was the greatest raconteur to occupy the White House between the presidencies of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. A superb mimic with a professional comic's sense of timing, he had an ear for a ringing phrase and could laugh at himself, relishing the opportunity to tell stories at his own expense. The anecdotes, sayings, and witticisms collected in this hugely entertaining and edifying volume are a testament to the high humor and insouciant, infectious personality of one of our greatest presidents. more...

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A collection of women's prayers from a range of traditions includes works by the Sufi mystic Rabia, Mechtild of Magdederg, Native Americans, and numerous contemporary poets, in a collection that includes prayers of thanks, praise, petition, and more. more...

Price: $14.99