Peter's Quotations: Ideas for Our Time

by Dr. Peter Laurence J.

From out of the mouths of babes, generals, gangsters, statesmen and philosophers, holy men and comedians, wits and wags, knowns and nobodies, come the jewels of wit and wisdom that speak to our time. "Move over Bartlett's Familiar Quotations and make room for Peter's Quotations. These may not be so familiar...but they are briefer, wittier and often wiser. This is a book I intend to keep within arm's reach." - Richard Armour "Open it anywhere and laugh - or wince" - Isaac Asimov

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Literature, Writing

580 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Gu Kun]

Teeming with quotes that bespeak the wit and/or wisdom of past (especially the twentieth) centuries. Every page makes you sit back and think (or grin or giggle). Great for embellishing your speeches, on any subject. A treasure trove.

[Writemoves]

Nice collection of aphorisms and nuggets of wisdom. Some of my favorite aphorisms are listed below:

The equal toleration of all religions…is the same thing as atheism. —Pope Leo XIII
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The only foes that threaten America are the enemies at home, and these are ignorance, superstition, and incompetence. —Elbert Hubbard
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If modern civilized man had to kill the animals he eats, the number of vegetarians would rise astronomically. —Christian Morgenstern
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Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote. —George Jean Nathan
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The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of great moral crises maintain their neutrality. —Dante Alighieri (1265–1321)
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An autobiography usually reveals nothing bad about its writer except his memory. —Franklin P. Jones
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If Jack’s in love, he’s no judge of Jill’s beauty. —Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
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The most costly of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true. —H. L. Mencken
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Every man prefers belief to the exercise of judgment. —Seneca (4 B.C.–A.D. 65)
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The inspiration of the Bible depends upon the ignorance of the gentleman who reads it. —Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–1899)
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The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. —Mark Twain
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To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting. —Edmund Burke (1729–1797)
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Under capitalism man exploits man; under socialism the reverse is true. —Polish Proverb
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Committee—a group of the unfit, appointed by the unwilling, to do the unnecessary. —Stewart Harrol
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Socialism is nothing but the capitalism of the lower classes. —Oswald Spengler

[Jillian]

I usually enjoy collections of quotations, but a few things about Peter's Quotations vexed me. Here they are.

1. Laurence J. Peter apparently thinks I need his commentary along with the quote. I really don't, and it is a confusing and annoying format for a quotation collection. It's not even historical context or interesting things about the quote; Peter just wants to interject something (not really) witty or kind of (ill-) revenant after the quote.

2. The topics are organized alphabetically, but the authors within each topic are not even if it would make more sense and be more ascetically pleasing that way. It just frustrated me.

3. Several of the quotes are repeated in different topics, which makes for a much longer read. Either narrow down topics or pick one category per quote.

4. Some of the topics felt like fillers so that there would be a topic with that letter.

5. Quote selection could have been better. Some of the quotes were too long, many of them didn't fit the topic they were put under, and some were just sexist, racist, and/or ignorant.

[Larkin]

As another reviewer has more articulately stated, the compiler/author kept inserting his ego into the quotations, which was vexing. Also, there were duplications; he should have selected one category best befitting each quotation.

[LInda L]

Admittedly, I have not read every page, but the ones I HAVE read make me SO agree with Lola regarding the author's compulsion to comment on almost everything. And unfortunately, he isn't funny. I guess HE thinks he is, but no. Not a bit. Get over yourself, Laurence.

[Don Male]

Finished

[MR M]

very helpful

[Shane]

This is one of the better quote books I've ever read.

[Harley Yang]

Concise, funny and wise

[Don Gubler]

Sayings with a twist and a bit of humor.

[Helen Geng]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14546635