Patrick O'Brian Quotes - Page 2

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For you must know, gentlemen, that when the mariner is dosed, he likes to know that he has been dosed: with fifteen grains or even less of this valuable substance scenting him and the very air about him there can be no doubt of the matter; and such is the nature of the human mind that he experiences a far greater real benefit than the drug itself would provide, were it deprived of its stench.

Patrick O'Brian

Real, Air, Drug

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I am in favour of leaving people alone, however imperfect their polity may seem. It appears to me that you must not tell other nations how to set their house in order; nor must you compel them to be happy.

Patrick O'Brian

Order, People, House

Patrick O'Brian (2004). “Master and commander ; Post captain ; H.M.S. Surprise ; The Mauritius command”

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Stephen had spared no expense in making himself more unhappy, his own position as a rejected lover clearer.

Patrick O'Brian

Unhappy, Lovers, Rejected

Patrick O'Brian (1991). “H. M. S. Surprise (Vol. Book 3) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)”, p.18, W. W. Norton & Company

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No man born of woman has ever understood spoken Portuguese.

Patrick O'Brian

Men, Portuguese, Born

Patrick O'Brian (2000). “Blue at the Mizzen (Vol. Book 20) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)”, p.53, W. W. Norton & Company

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Go and see whether the Doctor is about,’ said Jack, ‘and if he is, ask him to look in, when he has a moment.’ Which he is in the fish-market, turning over some old-fashioned lobsters. No. I tell a lie. That is him, falling down the companion-way and cursing in foreign.

Patrick O'Brian

Lying, Fall, Doctors

Patrick O'Brian (2000). “Blue at the Mizzen (Vol. Book 20) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)”, p.281, W. W. Norton & Company

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That would be locking the horse after the stable door is gone, a very foolish thing to do.

Patrick O'Brian

Horse, Doors, Would Be

Patrick O'Brian (2004). “The Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels”, W. W. Norton & Company

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It meant that Diana had not waited for any explanation, however halting and imperfect, but had condemned him unheard; and this showed a much harder, far less affectionate woman than the Diana he had known or had thought he knew - a mythical person, no doubt created by himself. It had of course been evident from her letter, which made no reference to his; but he had not chosen to see the evidence and now it was absolutely forced upon his sight it made his eyes sting and tingle again. And deprived of his myth he felt extraordinarily lonely.

Patrick O'Brian

Lonely, Eye, Sight

Patrick O'Brian (2011). “The Reverse of the Medal (Vol. Book 11) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)”, p.168, W. W. Norton & Company

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For my own part,' said Captain Aubrey, 'I have no notion of disliking a man for his beliefs, above all if he was born with them. I find I can get along very well with Jews or even...' The P of Papists was already formed, and the word was obliged to come out as Pindoos.

Patrick O'Brian

Men, Captains, Belief

Patrick O'Brian (2011). “The Wine-Dark Sea (Vol. Book 16) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)”, p.54, W. W. Norton & Company

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Other people's marriages are a perpetual source of amazement.

Patrick O'Brian

People, Source, Amazement

Patrick O'Brian (2011). “The Commodore (Vol. Book 17) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)”, p.252, W. W. Norton & Company

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They will not be pleased. But they know we must catch the monsoon with a well-found ship; and they know they are in the Navy--they have chosen their cake, and must lie on it.' You mean, they cannot have their bed and eat it.' No, no, it is not quite that either. I mean--I wish you would not confuse my mind, Stephen.

Patrick O'Brian

Lying, Mean, Cake

Patrick O'Brian (1991). “H. M. S. Surprise (Vol. Book 3) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)”, p.204, W. W. Norton & Company

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And she hates being managed - that is not the word I want. What is it, Maturin?' 'Manipulated.' 'Exactly. She is a dutiful girl - a great sense of duty: I think it rather stupid, but there it is - but still she finds the way her mother has been arranging and pushing and managing and angling in all this perfectly odious. You two must have had hogsheads of that grocer's claret forced down your throats. Perfectly odious: and she is obstinate - strong, if you like - under that bread-and-butter way of hers. It will take a great deal to move her; much more than the excitement of a ball.

Patrick O'Brian

Girl, Mother, Strong

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...looking angrily at the wombat: and a moment later, 'Come now, Stephen, this is coming it pretty high: your brute is eating my hat.' 'So he is, too,' said Dr. Maturin. 'But do not be perturbed, Jack; it will do him no harm, at all. His digestive processes--

Patrick O'Brian

Drs, Hats, Moments

Patrick O'Brian (2011). “The Fortune of War (Vol. Book 6) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)”, p.9, W. W. Norton & Company

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After all a book can be represented as a conversation with one’s demon.

Patrick O'Brian

Book, Demon, Conversation

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I sew his ears on from time to time, sure.

Patrick O'Brian

Ears

Patrick O'Brian (1990). “Post Captain (Vol. Book 2) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)”, p.190, W. W. Norton & Company

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For very strangely his officers looked upon Jack Aubrey as a moral figure, in spite of all proofs of the contrary...

Patrick O'Brian

Moral, Proof, Figures

"The Mauritius Command". Book by Patrick O'Brian, 1977.

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For a moment Jack felt the strongest inclination to snatch up his little gilt chair and beat the white-faced man down with it.

Patrick O'Brian

Men, White, Littles

Patrick O’Brian (2011). “Master and Commander (Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 1)”, p.4, HarperCollins UK

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Touch and away, Jack?’ asked Stephen. ‘Touch and away? Do you not recall that I have important business there? Enquiries of the very first interest?’ To do with our enterprise? To do with this voyage?’ Perhaps not quite directly.

Patrick O'Brian

Important, Enquiry, Voyages

Patrick O'Brian (2000). “Blue at the Mizzen (Vol. Book 20) (Aubrey/Maturin Novels)”, p.121, W. W. Norton & Company

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But the tale or narrative set in the past may have its particular time-free value; and the candid reader will not misunderstand me, will not suppose that I intend any preposterous comparison, when I observe that Homer was farther removed in time from Troy than I am from the Napoleonic wars; yet he spoke to the Greeks for 2,000 years and more.

Patrick O'Brian

War, Past, Years

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It is a great while since I felt the grind of bone under my saw,' he added, smiling with anticipation.

Patrick O'Brian

Saws, Anticipation, Bones

Patrick O'Brian (1990). “Master and Commander (Vol. Book 1)”, p.80, W. W. Norton & Company

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For me the process works best with no interruptions, no breaks in the steady application, no letters to be answered, very little social life, no holidays; it is therefore a form of happy imprisonment.

Patrick O'Brian

Holiday, Letters, Littles

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Born: December 12, 1914
Died: January 2, 2000
Occupation: Novelist
Cite this Page: Citation

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