Hilaire Belloc Quotes

“Matilda told such Dreadful Lies, It made on Gasp and Stretch one’s Eyes; Her Aunt, who, from her Earliest Youth, Had kept a Strict Regard for Truth, Attempted to Believe Matilda: The effort very nearly killed her, And would have done so, had not She Discovered this Infirmity.”

″ ‘Oh, Murder! What was that, Papa!’ ‘My child, it was a Motor-Car, A Most Ingenious Toy! Designed to Captivate and Charm Much rather than to rouse Alarm In any English Boy.’ ”

“Lord Lundy from his earliest years Was far to freely moved to Tears. For instance if his Mother said, ‘Lundy! It’s time to go to Bed!’ He bellowed like a Little Turk. Or if his father Lord Dunquerque Said ‘Hi!’ in a Commanding Tone, ‘Hi, Lundy! Leave the Cat alone!’ ”

“A trick that everyone abhors In Little Girls is slamming Doors A Wealthy Banker’s Little Daughter Who lived in Palace Green, Bayswater (By name Rebecca Offendort) Was given to this Furious Sport.”

“And even took him to the Zoo- But there it was the dreadful Fate Befell him, which I now relate. You know- at least you ought to know, For I have often told you so- That Children are never allowed To leave their Nurses in a Crowd”

“From Franklin Hyde’s adventure, lean to pass your Leisure Time In Cleanly Merriment, and turn From Mud and Ooze and Slime And Every form of Nastiness- But, on the other hand, Children in ordinary Dress May always play with Sand.”

“When George’s Grandmamma was told That George had been as good as Gold, She Promised in the Afternoon To buy him an Immense BALLOON, And so she; but when it came, It got into the candle flame, And being of a dangerous sort Exploded with a loud report!”

“The moral is that little Boys Should not be given dangerous Toys.”

“Lord Lundy would begin to cry. A Hint at harmless little jobs Would shake him with convulsive sobs. While as for Revelations, these Would simply bring him to his knees, And leave him whimpering like a child. It drove his Colleagues raving wild!”

“He thus became immensely Rich, And built the Splendid Mansion which Is called ‘The Cedars Muswell Hill’ Where he resides in Affluence still To show what Everybody might Become by SIMPLY DOING RIGHT.”