Jack > Jack's Quotes

“Nobody can stay in the Garden of Eden.”
― James Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room

“Sons of suicides seldom do well. Characteristically, they find life lacking a certain zing.”
― Kurt Vonnegut Jr., God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater

“There were only two things he wanted to do: One was to find his roots, and the other was to find some woman who would sew all his buttons back on.”
― Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Deadeye Dick

“Two weevils crept from the crumbs. ‘You see those weevils, Stephen?’ said Jack solemnly. ‘I do.’ ‘Which would you choose?’ ‘There is not a scrap of difference. Arcades ambo. They are the same species of curculio, and there is nothing to choose between them.’ ‘But suppose you had to choose?’ ‘Then I should choose the right-hand weevil; it has a perceptible advantage in both length and breadth.’ ‘There I have you,’ cried Jack. ‘You are bit – you are completely dished. Don’t you know that in the Navy you must always choose the lesser of two weevils? Oh ha, ha, ha, ha!”
― Patrick O'Brian, The Fortune of War

“But you know as well as I, patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is infamous, or my country is always right, which is imbecile.”
― Patrick O'Brian, Master & Commander

“This short watch that is about to come, or rather these two short watches--why are they called dog watches? Where, heu, heu, is the canine connection?'

Why,' said Stephen, 'it is because they are curtailed of course.”
― Patrick O'Brian, Post Captain

“...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, The Fortune of War

“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, H.M.S. Surprise

“Jack, you've debauched my sloth.”
― Patrick O'Brian, H.M.S. Surprise

“He held up two fingers, in case a landman might not fully comprehend so great a number.”
― Patrick O'Brian, Master and Commander

“You do not mean there is danger of peace?", cried Jack.”
― Patrick O'Brian, Desolation Island

“[Babbington] "What did [the Doctor, Stephen] do to you, sir?"

[Captain Aubrey] "Well, I am ashamed to say he took a pistol-ball out of the small of my back. It must have been when I turned to hail for more hands- thank God I did not. At the time I thought it was one of those vile horses that were capering about abaft the wheel."

"Oh, sir, surely a horse would never have fired off a pistol?”
― Patrick O'Brian, The Letter of Marque

“She could never be a saint, but she thought she could be a martyr if they killed her quick.”
― Flannery O'Connor

“The ability of the British sailor to get hold of liquor and his readiness to overindulge in it were part of his physical make-up, like his ears of his eyes.”
― C.S. Forester, Lieutenant Hornblower