Quotes from Dorothy L. Sayers

What we in fact believe is not necessarily the theory we most desire or admire. It is the thing that, consciously or unconsciously, we take for granted and act on.

I'm sure one should do one's own job, however trivial, and not persuade one's self into doing somebody else's, however noble.

Sherlock is my name and Holmes is my nature.

You said 'The glass-blower's cat is bompstable'," retorted Lord Peter. "It's a perfectly rippin' word, but I don't know what you mean by it.

Once you have secured to yourself the sort of government that nobody dares to criticise, the way is open for the bullet-proof car, the bodyguard armed to the teeth, and the iron hell of a discipline tightened to hysteria.

May we take it that he was in exceptionally lively spirits?" suggested Counsel. "Take it in any spirit you like," muttered the witness, adding, more happily, "Take a peg of John Begg.

I'm all for scattering sunshine as we pass. As Stevenson says, we shall pass this way but once--and I devoutly hope he's right.

What a shocking set of crooks these English servants are! Not even murder will turn them from their feudal devotion to the man who pays!

Mr. Copley, feeling as though his head were filled with hard knobs of spinning granite that crashed with sickening thuds against his brainpan, walked stiffly away to his own quarters. As

feeling suddenly embarrassed and looking, in consequence, defiant.

To obey orders in this family has been my privilege for the last twenty years--a privilege which has been an unqualified pleasure, except perhaps when connected with the photography of deceased persons in an imperfect state of preservation.

There's no sense in trying to fight the last war but one.

Do but consider what an excellent thing sleep is: it is so inestimable a jewel that, if a tyrant would give his crown for an hour's slumber, it cannot be bought: of so beautiful a shape is it, that though a man lie with an Empress, his heart cannot beat quite till he leaves her embracements to be at rest with the other: yea, so greatly indebted are we to this

Oysters have beards, but they don't wag them.

Damn it, said Wimsey, savagely, I always did hate watering-places!

Look what I've found! Come and have a bit of it – it's grand – you'll love it – I can't keep it to myself, and anyhow, I want to know what you think of it."3

And by forcing the damn-fool public to pay twice over – once to have its food emasculated and once to have the vitality put back again, we keep the wheels of commerce turning and give employment to thousands – including you and me.

If they are cold, these English women, it is because they are frozen with neglect.

The doors of the storehouse of knowledge should now be thrown open for them to browse about as they will.

Well-bred English people never have imagination, Bunter.

How true it is that men live for Things and women for People!

I am ready,' said Gilda Farren, 'to forgive—' 'Never do that,' said Wimsey. 'Forgiveness is the one unpardonable sin.

So handsome, I always think," whispered the Duchess to Mr. Parker; "just exactly like William Morris, with that bush of hair and beard and those exciting eyes looking out of it—so splendid, these dear men always devoted to something or other—not but what I think socialism is a mistake—of course it works with all those nice people, so good and happy in art linen and the weather always perfect—Morris, I mean, you know—but so difficult in real life.

They knew, with the painful conviction of experience, what it meant to say, "I see and approve the better, but follow the worse.