John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
Horae Walpole 1717-1797 John Bartlett
| 1 |
| Harry Vane, Pulteney’s toad-eater, |
| Letter to Sir Horace Mann, 1742. |
| 2 |
| The world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those who feel. |
| Letter to Sir Horace Mann, 1770. |
| 3 |
| A careless song, with a little nonsense in it now and then, does not misbecome a monarch. 1 |
| Letter to Sir Horace Mann, 1774. |
| 4 |
| The whole [Scotch] nation hitherto has been void of wit and humour, and even incapable of relishing it. 2 |
| Letter to Sir Horace Mann, 1778. |
| Note 1. A little nonsense now and then Is relished by the wisest men. Anonymous. [back] |
| Note 2. It requires a surgical operation to get a joke well into a Scotch understanding.—Sydney Smith: Lady Holland’s Memoir, vol. i. p. 15. [back] |