Quotes of the Week - Oct 5, 2008:
"The reality is we're in an urgent situation and the consequences
will get bigger each day we do not act." -- US President George Bush,
on efforts to resurrect the $700 billion financial rescue package aimed
at stabilizing financial markets.
"Sixty-seven percent of the Republican Conference decided to put
political ideology ahead of the best interest of our great nation."
-- U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn, a Democrat from South Carolina,
after the House voted against the $700-billion bailout package.
"I go three, maybe four times a year to get tested for sexually transmitted
infections and most of the time I don't even need to." -- Singer
and TV presenter Kelly Osborne.
Authors:
The Wind in the Willows Quotes, Famous Quotes Sayings from The Wind
in the Willows
Animals
when in company walk in a proper and sensible manner, in single
file, instead of sprawling all across the road and being of
no use or support to each other in case of sudden trouble or
danger. The Wind in the Willows Ch. 6.
Independence
is all very well, but we animals never allow our friends to
make fools of themselves beyond a certain limit; and that limit
you've reached. The Wind in the Willows Badger, Ch. 6.
Dark
and deserted as it was, the night was full of small noises,
song and chatter and rustling, telling of the busy little population
who were up and about, plying their trades and vocations through
the night till sunshine should fall on them at last and send
them off to their well-earned repose. The water's own noises,
too, were more apparent than by day, its gurglings and "cloops"
more unexpected and near at hand; and constantly they started
at what seemed a sudden clear call from an actual articulate
voice. The Wind in the Willows Ch. 7.
A
bird piped suddenly, and was still; and a light breeze sprang
up and set the reeds and bulrushes rustling. Rat, who was in
the stern of the boat, while Mole sculled, sat up suddenly and
listened with a passionate intentness. Mole, who with gentle
strokes was just keeping the boat moving while he scanned the
banks with care, looked at him with curiosity.
"It's gone!" sighed the Rat, sinking back in his seat
again. "So beautiful and strange and new. Since it was
to end so soon, I almost wish I had never heard it. For it has
roused a longing in me that is pain, and nothing seems worth
while but just to hear that sound once more and go on listening
to it for ever. No! There it is again!" he cried, alert
once more. Entranced, he was silent for a long space, spellbound.
"Now it passes on and I begin to lose it," he said
presently. "O Mole! the beauty of it! The merry bubble
and joy, the thin, clear, happy call of the distant piping!
Such music I never dreamed of, and the call in it is stronger
even than the music is sweet! Row on, Mole, row! For the music
and the call must be for us."
The Mole, greatly wondering, obeyed. "I hear nothing myself,"
he said, "but the wind playing in the reeds and rushes
and osiers." The Wind in the Willows Ch. 7.
"Clearer
and nearer still," cried the Rat joyously. "Now you
must surely hear it! Ah - at last - I see you do!"
Breathless and transfixed the Mole stopped rowing as the liquid
run of that glad piping broke on him like a wave, caught him
up, and possessed him utterly. He saw the tears on his comrade's
cheeks, and bowed his head and understood. The Wind in the Willows Ch. 7.
On
either side of them, as they glided onwards, the rich meadow-grass
seemed that morning of a freshness and a greenness unsurpassable.
Never had they noticed the roses so vivid, the willow-herb so
riotous, the meadow-sweet so odorous and pervading. Then the
murmur of the approaching weir began to hold the air, and they
felt a consciousness that they were nearing the end, whatever
it might be, that surely awaited their expedition. The Wind in the Willows Ch. 7.
In
midmost of the stream, embraced in the weir's shimmering arm-spread,
a small island lay anchored, fringed close with willow and silver
birch and alder. Reserved, shy, but full of significance, it
hid whatever it might hold behind a veil, keeping it till the
hour should come, and, with the hour, those who were called
and chosen. The Wind in the Willows Ch. 7.
Slowly,
but with no doubt or hesitation whatever, and in something of
a solemn expectancy, the two animals passed through the broken
tumultuous water and moored their boat at the flowery margin
of the island. The Wind in the Willows Ch. 7.
In
that utter clearness of the imminent dawn, while Nature... seemed
to hold her breath for the event, he looked in the very eyes
of the Friend and Helper..."This is the place of my song-dream,
the place the music played to me," whispered the Rat, as
if in a trance. "Here, in this holy place, here if anywhere,
surely we shall find Him!"
Then suddenly the Mole felt a great Awe fall upon him, an awe
that turned his muscles to water, bowed his head, and rooted
his feet to the ground. It was no panic terror - indeed he felt
wonderfully at peace and happy - but it was an awe that smote
and held him and, without seeing, he knew it could only mean
that some august Presence was very, very near. With difficulty
he turned to look for his friend and saw him at his side cowed,
stricken, and trembling violently. And still there was utter
silence in the populous bird-haunted branches around them; and
still the light grew and grew. The Wind in the Willows Ch. 7.
Perhaps
he would never have dared to raise his eyes, but that, though
the piping was now hushed, the call and the summons seemed still
dominant and imperious. He might not refuse, were Death himself
waiting to strike him instantly, once he had looked with mortal
eye on things rightly kept hidden. Trembling he obeyed, and
raised his humble head; and then, in that utter clearness of
the imminent dawn, while Nature, flushed with fullness of incredible
colour, seemed to hold her breath for the event, he looked in
the very eyes of the Friend and Helper; saw the backward sweep
of the curved horns, gleaming in the growing daylight; saw the
stern, hooked nose between the kindly eyes that were looking
down on them humourously, while the bearded mouth broke into
a half-smile at the corners; saw the rippling muscles on the
arm that lay across the broad chest, the long supple hand still
holding the pan-pipes only just fallen away from the parted
lips; saw the splendid curves of the shaggy limbs disposed in
majestic ease on the sward; saw, last of all, nestling between
his very hooves, sleeping soundly in entire peace and contentment,
the little, round, podgy, childish form of the baby otter. All
this he saw, for one moment breathless and intense, vivid on
the morning sky; and still, as he looked, he lived; and still,
as he lived, he wondered. The Wind in the Willows Ch. 7.
The
Wind in the Willows, a classic of children's literature, was written
in 1908 by Scottish-born writer Kenneth Grahame. Born March 8, 1859.
Died July 6, 1932.
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