Hilaire Belloc quotes

Hilaire Belloc was a French-British writer, historian, and poet, recognized for his wit and prolific contributions to English literature. A major figure in early twentieth-century Catholic thought, his works ranged from satire and essays to histories and children's poems. He is remembered for his sharp social commentary and lasting influence on literary and religious discourse. Here are 107 of his quotes:

Loss and possession, death and life are one, There falls no shadow where there shines no sun.

Hilaire Belloc

When I am dead, I hope it may be said: His sins were scarlet, but his books were read.

Hilaire Belloc

Any subject can be made interesting, and therefore any subject can be made boring.

Hilaire Belloc

It is the best of all trades, to make songs, and the second best to sing them.

Hilaire Belloc

I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

Hilaire Belloc

All men have an instinct for conflict: at least, all healthy men.

Hilaire Belloc

Statistics are the triumph of the quantitative method, and the quantitative method is the victory of sterility and death.

Hilaire Belloc

Be content to remember that those who can make omelettes properly can do nothing else.

Hilaire Belloc

Of all fatiguing, futile, empty trades, the worst, I suppose, is writing about writing.

Hilaire Belloc

The moment a man talks to his fellows he begins to lie.

Hilaire Belloc

Is there no Latin word for Tea? Upon my soul, if I had known that I would have let the vulgar stuff alone.

Hilaire Belloc

Child! Do not throw this book about; refrain from the unholy pleasure of cutting all the pictures out.

Hilaire Belloc

I'm tired of love; I'm still more tired of rhyme; but money gives me pleasure all the time.

Hilaire Belloc

Oh, my friends, be warned by me, That breakfast, dinner, lunch and tea, Are all human frame requires.

Hilaire Belloc

Whatever happens, we have got The Maxim gun, and they have not.

Hilaire Belloc

How slow the shadow creeps but when 'tis past How fast the shadows fall. How fast How fast.

Hilaire Belloc

Matilda told such dreadful lies, It made one 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.

Hilaire Belloc

And always keep a hold of nurse, for fear of finding something worse.

Hilaire Belloc

I shoot the Hippopotamus with bullets made of platinum,because if I use the leaden one his hide is sure to flatten em.

Hilaire Belloc

I said to Heart, 'How goes it' Heart replied 'Right as a Ribstone Pippin' But it lied.

Hilaire Belloc

The Microbe is so very small You cannot make him out at all, But many sanguine people hope To see him through a microscope.

Hilaire Belloc

Pale Ebenezer thought it wrong to fight, But Roaring Bill (who killed him) thought it right.

Hilaire Belloc