Quotes from W. S. Gilbert

Oh! a private buffoon is a light-hearted loon, If you listen to popular rumour; From morning to night he's so joyous and bright, And he bubbles with wit and good humour!

I am a child of Nature, and take after my mother.

He led his regiment from behind. He found it less exciting.

There's a fascination frantic in a ruin that's romantic.

Oh, don't the days seem lank and long When all goes right and nothing goes wrong, And isn't your life extremely flat With nothing whatever to grumble at!

Isn't your life extremely flat,With nothing to grumble at?

Society has quite forsaken all her wicked courses, Which empties our police courts, and abolishes divorces.

Deerstalking would be a very fine sport if only the deer had guns.

Life is a joke that's just begun.

Is life a boon? If so, it must befall That Death, whene'er he call, Must call too soon.

Life's perhaps the only riddle That we shrink from giving up.

My object all sublime I shall achieve in time- To let the punishment fit the crime- The punishment fit the crime.

So I fell in love with a rich attorney's Elderly ugly daughter.

Faint heart never won fair lady! Nothing venture, nothing win Blood is thick, but water's thin In for a penny, in for a pound It's Love that makes the world go 'round!

Spurn not the nobly born with love affected; nor treat with virtuous scorn the well connected.

Things are seldom what they seem, Skim milk masquerades as cream.

Of that there is no manner of doubt - No probable, possible shadow of doubt - No possible doubt whatever.

For he might have been a Rooshian A French or Turk or Proosian, Or perhaps Italian. But in spite of all temptations To belong to other nations, He remains an Englishman.

Did nothing in particular, and did it very well.

When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well

Saturday afternoon, although occurring at regular and well-foreseen intervals, always takes this railway by surprise.

As innocent as a new-laid egg.

A source of innocent merriment! Of innocent merriment.

Oh, I am a cook and a captain bold And the mate of the Nancy brig, And a bo'sun tight and a midshipmate And the crew of the captain's gig.