The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (Oxford Quick Reference)

As Emerson once said, "By necessity, by proclivity--and by delight, we all quote." In this new edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, you can find (and verify) classic quotes and little known gems--the words of the famous and the notorious, the witty and the wise--in a collection of over 9,000 quotations from more than 2,000 authors. Offering all the authority and accuracy of the acclaimed Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, the fourth edition maintains its extensive coverage of literary and historical quotations and contains completely up-to-date material on today's influential and cultural figures. From Homer, Shakespeare, and the Bible to the sound-bites of today's politicians and pop stars, this indispensable guide is unceasingly entertaining for the general reader and a highly practical reference for study or speech-writing. Perhaps the most useful feature of this dictionary is a keyword index, for tracing half-remembered quotations to their authors, or finding quotations on a particular subject.

An ideal reference for any home or office library, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, Fourth Edition will be a constant source of entertainment and inspiration for public speakers, writers, or anyone else who enjoys a sparkling line or a spirited reply.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198662688
• ISBN13: 9780198662686
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 552 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.5" x 1.2" x 4.9"

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable but not comprehensive

This is by and large a very enjoyable work with thousands of interesting quotations. It is a wonderful book for those small minutes in- between when one cannot read anything extensive but nonetheless wishes to keep one's mind focused and learning. One problem with the book is that often the quotations are chopped off parts of quotations well- known in a more extensive form. My other problem is that I do not particularly want to read in a work I am enjoy quotations from certain abominable monsters such as Nazi leaders whose memories should be dust. This of course is not the fault of the editors and the monsters of history often are remembered and quoted when their victims remain silent. I wonder if a book of quotations from the ' virtuous of mankind' is a feasible and interesting project. In any case this work is by and large interesting and entertaining.