Carroll Lewis Quotes & Sayings

Anon, to sudden silence won, In fancy they pursue The dream-child moving through the land Of wonders wild and new, In friendly chat with bird or beast - And half believe it true. — Lewis Carroll

Do you suppose she's a wildflower? — Lewis Carroll

The Rabbit started violently, dropped the white kid gloves and the fan, and scurried away into the darkness as hard as he could go. — Lewis Carroll

And here Alice began to get rather sleepy, and went on saying to herself, in a dreamy sort of way, 'Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?' and sometimes, 'Do bats eat cats?' for, you see, as she couldn't answer either question, it didn't much matter which way she put it. — Lewis Carroll

My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere you must run twice as fast as that. — Lewis Carroll

Photography is my one recreation and I think it should be done well. — Lewis Carroll

When you start talking about the known knowns and the unknown unknowns, you're thrown into a crazy meta-level discussion. Do I know what I know, do I know what I don't know, do I know what I don't know I don't know. It becomes a strange, Lewis Carroll - like nursery rhyme. — Errol Morris

Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.
Alice: I don't much care where.
The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.
Alice: ... So long as I get somewhere.
The Cheshire Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough. — Lewis Carroll

The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things. — Lewis Carroll

Who are YOU? said the Caterpillar. — Lewis Carroll

The question is, which is to be master? That's all. They've a temper, some of them. Particularly verbs. Oh, they're the proudest! Adjectives, eh, you can do anything with, but not verbs however. — Lewis Carroll

Where one is hopelessly undecided as to what to say, there (as Confucius would have said, if they had given him the opportunity) silence is golden. — Lewis Carroll

Here is a golden Rule ... Write legibly. The average temper of the human race would be perceptibly sweetened, if everybody obeyedthis Rule! — Lewis Carroll

My hand moves because certain forces
electric, magnetic, or whatever 'nerve-force' may prove to be
are impressed on it by my brain. This nerve-force, stored in the brain, would probably be traceable, if Science were complete, to chemical forces supplied to the brain by the blood, and ultimately derived from the food I eat and the air I breathe. — Lewis Carroll

I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then. — Lewis Carroll

That's the reason they're called lessons, because they lesson from day to day. — Lewis Carroll

And how many hours a day did you do lessons?' said Alice, in a hurry to change the subject.
Ten hours the first day,' said the Mock Turtle: 'nine the next, and so on.'
What a curious plan!' exclaimed Alice.
That's the reason they're called lessons,' the Gryphon remarked: 'because they lessen from day to day. — Lewis Carroll

Alice ventured to taste it, and finding it very nice, (it had, in fact, a sort of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, — Lewis Carroll

What does it matter where my body happens to be?' he said. 'My mind goes on working all the same. — Lewis Carroll

Can a Thing exist without any Attributes belonging to it? — Lewis Carroll

You're thinking about something, and it makes you forget to talk. — Lewis Carroll

Serpent, I say again!' repeated the Pigeon, but in a more subdued tone, and added with a kind of sob, 'I've tried every way, and nothing seems to suit them!' 'I haven't the least idea what you're talking — Lewis Carroll

Wormholes were first introduced to the public over a century ago in a book written by an Oxford mathematician. Perhaps realizing that adults might frown on the idea of multiply connected spaces, he wrote the book under a pseudonym and wrote it for children. His name was Charles Dodgson, his pseudonym was Lewis Carroll, and the book was Through The Looking Glass. — Michio Kaku

Meanwhile we'll drink your health - queen Alice's health!' she screamed at the top of her voice, and all the guests began drinking it directly ... — Lewis Carroll

In summer, when the days are long, Perhaps you'll understand the song: In Autumn, when the leaves are brown, Take pen and ink, and write it down. — Lewis Carroll

If you don't know where you're going, any road'll take you there — George Harrison

All that matters is what we do for each other. — Lewis Carroll

Alice! Come here directly, and get ready for your walk!" "Coming in a minute, nurse! But I've got to see that the mouse doesn't get out." Only I don't think,' Alice went on, 'that they'd let Dinah stop in the house if it began ordering people about like that!' By this time — Lewis Carroll

Like a fable, Night when a Milky Way goes through the other Milky Way
My hope is standing
He walked with the speed of memories — Lewis Carroll

"I could have done it in a much more complicated way," said the Red Queen, immensely proud. — Lewis Carroll

If you set to work to believe everything, you will tire out the believing-muscles of your mind, and then you'll be so weak you won't be able to believe the simplest true things. — Lewis Carroll

He's dreaming now,' said Tweedledee: 'and what do you think he's dreaming about?'
Alice said 'Nobody can guess that.'
'Why, about YOU!' Tweedledee exclaimed, clapping his hands triumphantly. 'And if he left off dreaming about you, where do you suppose you'd be?'
'Where I am now, of course,' said Alice.
'Not you!' Tweedledee retorted contemptuously. 'You'd be nowhere. Why, you're only a sort of thing in his dream!'
'If that there King was to wake,' added Tweedledum, 'you'd go out - bang! - just like a candle! — Lewis Carroll

Can you do Division? Divide a loaf by a knife - what's the answer to that? — Lewis Carroll

Will do, to begin with.' 'A barrowful of what?' thought Alice; but she had not long to doubt, for the next moment a shower of little pebbles came rattling in at the window, and some of them hit her in the face. 'I'll put a stop to this,' she said to herself, and shouted out, 'You'd better not do that again!' which produced another dead silence. Alice noticed with some surprise that the pebbles were all turning into little cakes as they lay on the floor, and a bright idea came into her head. 'If I eat one of these cakes,' she thought, 'it's — Lewis Carroll

She'll get me executed, as sure as ferrets are ferrets! — Lewis Carroll

It began with the tea,' the Hatter replied. — Lewis Carroll

You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are. Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland — Tara Crescent

We're all mad here. Im mad. You're mad — Lewis Carroll

The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday - but never jam today. — Lewis Carroll

We CAN talk,' said the Tiger-lily: 'when there's anybody worth talking to — Lewis Carroll

How can one possibly pay attention to a book with no pictures in it? — Lewis Carroll

Mine is a long and a sad tale!' said the Mouse, turning to Alice, and sighing. 'It is a long tail, certainly,' said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse's tail; 'but why do you call it sad? — Lewis Carroll

Why is it that people with the most narrow of minds seem to have the widest of mouths? — Lewis Carroll

Curiouser and curiouser! Cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English). — Lewis Carroll

It had a sort of mixed flavor of cherry-tart, custard, pineapple, roast turkey, toffy and hot buttered toast — Lewis Carroll

I cannot even pretend to feel as much interest in boys as in girls. — Lewis Carroll

Just then she heard something splashing — Lewis Carroll

Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas - only I don't exactly know what they are! — Lewis Carroll

Hand with Dinah, and saying to her very earnestly, 'Now, Dinah, tell me the truth: did you ever eat a bat?' when suddenly, thump! thump! — Lewis Carroll

Whenever the horse stopped (which it did very often), he fell off in front; and, whenever it went on again (which it generally did rather suddenly), he fell off behind. Otherwise he kept on pretty well, except that he had a habit of now and then falling off sideways; and, as he generally did this on the side on which Alice was walking, she soon found that it was the best plan not to walk quite close to the horse. — Lewis Carroll

There are certain things
as, a spider, a ghost,
The income-tax, gout, an umbrella for three
That I hate, but the thing that I hate the most
Is a thing they call the Sea. — Lewis Carroll

We're all mad here. — Lewis Carroll

Well, when one's lost, I suppose it's good advice to stay where you are until someone finds you. — Lewis Carroll

I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it. — Lewis Carroll

Forbid the day when vivisection shall be practised in every college and school, and when the man of science, looking forth over a world which will then own no other sway than his, shall exult in the thought that he has made of this fair earth, if not a heaven, at least a hell for animals. — Lewis Carroll

What sort of people live about here?
- In THAT direction lives, lives a Hatter and in THAT direction, lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they're both mad.
- But I don't want to go among mad people.
- Oh, you can't help that, we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.
- How do you know I'm mad?
- You must be, or you wouldn't have come here. — Lewis Carroll

Rabbit came near her, she began, in a low, timid voice, 'If you please, sir
' The Rabbit started violently, dropped the white kid gloves and the fan, and skurried away into the darkness as hard as he could go. Alice took up the fan and gloves, and, as the hall was very hot, she kept — Lewis Carroll

I've a right to think," said Alice sharply.
"Just about as much right," said the Duchess, "as pigs have to fly."
~ Lewis Carroll: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 1865 ~ — Lewis Carroll

Her eye fell upon a little bottle that stood near the looking-glass. There was no label this time with the words 'DRINK ME,' but nevertheless she uncorked it and put it to her lips. 'I know SOMETHING interesting is sure to happen,' she said to herself, 'whenever I eat or drink anything; so I'll just see what this bottle does. — Lewis Carroll

Just look down the road and tell me if you can see either of them."
I see nobody on the road." said Alice.
I only wish I had such eyes,"the King remarked in a fretful tone. "To be able to see Nobody! And at such a distance too! — Lewis Carroll

Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense. — Lewis Carroll

A while, finding that nothing more happened, she decided on going into the garden at once; but, alas for poor Alice! when she got to the door, she found she had forgotten the little golden key, — Lewis Carroll

What a funny watch!' she remarked. 'It tells the day of the month, and doesn't tell
what o'clock it is!'
'Why should it?' muttered the Hatter. 'Does YOUR watch tell you what year it is?'
'Of course not,' Alice replied very readily: 'but that's because it stays the same year for such a long time together.'
'Which is just the case with MINE,' said the Hatter. — Lewis Carroll

There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself "Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!" (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and, burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge. — Lewis Carroll

Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop — Lewis Carroll

noticed, had powdered hair that curled all — Lewis Carroll

Yes, that's it! Said the Hatter with a sigh, it's always tea time. — Lewis Carroll

It's really dreadful,' she muttered to herself, 'the way all the creatures argue. It's enough to drive one crazy!' The — Lewis Carroll

It's too late to correct it: when you've once said a thing, that fixes it, and you must take the consequences. — Lewis Carroll

Who Stole the Tarts? — Lewis Carroll

You know," he (Tweedledee) added very gravely, "it's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle
to get one's head cut off." pg. 199 — Lewis Carroll

In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again. — Lewis Carroll

I am real!" said Alice, and began to cry. — Lewis Carroll

buttons, and turns out his toes.' [later editions continued as follows When the sands are all dry, he is gay as a lark, And will talk in contemptuous tones of the Shark, But, when the tide rises and sharks are around, His voice has a timid and tremulous sound.] 'That's different from what — Lewis Carroll

You don't know much,' said the Duchess; 'and that's a fact. — Lewis Carroll

What do you suppose is the use of a child without any meaning? Even a joke should have some meaning
and a child's more imporant than a joke, I hope. You couldn't deny that, even if you tried with both hands. — Lewis Carroll

We haven't any and you're too young. — Lewis Carroll

Honey Citrus Fruit Kabab — Lewis Carroll

A loaf of bread, the Walrus said, Is what we chiefly need: Pepper and vinegar besides Are very good indeed
Now if you're ready, Oysters, dear, We can begin to feed! — Lewis Carroll

ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND Lewis Carroll THE MILLENNIUM FULCRUM EDITION 3.0 CHAPTER I Down the Rabbit-Hole Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, 'and what is the use of a book,' thought Alice 'without pictures or conversation?' So — Lewis Carroll

absurd, but they all looked so grave that she did not dare to laugh; and, as she could not think of anything to say, she simply bowed, and took the thimble, looking as solemn as she could. — Lewis Carroll

By-the-bye, what became of the baby?" said the Cat. "I'd nearly forgotten to ask."
"It turned into a pig," Alice answered very quietly, just as if the Cat had come back in a natural way.
"I thought it would," said the Cat, and vanished again. — Lewis Carroll

It was much pleasanter at home," thought poor Alice, "when one wasn't always growing larger and smaller, and being ordered about by mice and rabbits. I almost wish I hadn't gone down the rabbit-hole
and yet
and yet
... — Lewis Carroll

Dear Cook, please lend a frying-pan To me as quickly as you can." "And wherefore should I lend it you?" "The reason, Cook, is plain to view. I wish to make an Irish stew." "What meat is in that stew to go?" "My sister'll be the contents!" "Oh!" "You'll lend the pan to me, Cook?" "No!" Moral: Never stew your sister. — Lewis Carroll

When I used to read fairy-tales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one! — Lewis Carroll

Alice: This is impossible.
The Mad Hatter: Only if you believe it is. — Lewis Carroll

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night. — Lewis Carroll

While the laughter of joy is in full harmony with our deeper life, the laughter of amusement should be kept apart from it. The danger is too great of thus learning to look at solemn things in a spirit of mockery, and to seek in them opportunities for exercising wit. — Lewis Carroll

We called him Tortoise because he taught us. — Lewis Carroll

Alice was beginning — Lewis Carroll

As life draws nearer to its end, I feel more and more clearly that it will not matter in the least, at the last day, what form of religion a man has professed-nay, that many who have never even heard of Christ, will in that day find themselves saved by His blood. — Lewis Carroll

If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there. — Lewis Carroll

You alarm me!' said the King. 'I feel faint - Give me a ham sandwich!'
On which the Messenger, to Alice's great amusement, opened a bag that hung round his neck, and handed a sandwich to the King, who devoured it greedily.
'Another sandwich!' said the King.
'There's nothing but hay left now,' the Messenger said, peeping into the bag.
'Hay, then,' the King murmured in a faint whisper.
Alice was glad to see that it revived him a good deal. 'There's nothing like eating hay when you're faint,' he remarked to her, as he munched away.
'I should think throwing cold water over you would be better,' Alice suggested: 'or some sal-volatile.'
'I didn't say there was nothing better,' the King replied. 'I said there was nothing like it.' Which Alice did not venture to deny. — Lewis Carroll

For the snark was a boojum, you see. — Lewis Carroll

You have to run as fast as you can just to stay where you are. If you want to get anywhere, you'll have to run much faster. — Lewis Carroll

The executioner's argument was that you couldn't cut of something's head unless there was a trunk to sever it from. He'd never done anything like that in his time of life, and wasn't going to start now.
The King's argument was that anything that had a head, could be beheaded, and you weren't to talk nonsense.
The Queen's argument was that if something wasn't done about it in less than no time, she'd have everyone beheaded all round.
It was this last argument that had everyone looking so nervous and uncomfortable. — Lewis Carroll

The recent extraordinary discovery in Photography, as applied in the operations of the mind, has reduced the art of novel-writing to the merest mechanical labour. — Lewis Carroll

The Red Queen shook her head. "You may call it 'nonsense' if you like," she said, "but I've heard nonsense, compared with which that would be as sensible as a dictionary! — Lewis Carroll

Nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, 'Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!' (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down — Lewis Carroll

O Mouse, do you know the way out of this pool? I am very tired of swimming about here, O Mouse!' (Alice thought this must be the right way of speaking to a mouse: she had never done such a thing before, but she remembered having seen in her brother's Latin Grammar, 'A mouse - of a mouse - to a mouse - a mouse - O mouse!') — Lewis Carroll