Isambard Quotes & Sayings

I am opposed to the laying down of rules or conditions to be observed in the construction of bridges lest the progress of improvement tomorrow might be embarrassed or shackled by recording or registering as law the prejudices or errors of today. — Isambard K. Brunel

Till you chose to turn her into a friend, her mind had no distaste for her own set, nor any ambition beyond it. — Jane Austen

I stepped free of Isambard and shoved Michael in the chest. I caught him off guard. He tumbled to the dock, and rolled into the water with a splash.
"I hope there are zombie sharks in there and they bite you and you die!" I screamed. — Lia Habel

I would get under Abbott's skin in question time if I recited some Latin words and phrases denoting Abbott's hypocrisy, assuming that Abbott's religious training would enable him to understand. I was sceptical, but at the same time enthusiastic. I never got around to it, but I kept my little list of Latin words and phrases in my question time folder for the whole of the period of the Gillard Government. My favourite was actually derived from Greek, the obscure word pseudologue, which means 'compulsive liar' - an accurate description of Abbott's behaviour in his scare campaign on carbon. — Greg Combet

And that taught me you can't have anything, you can't have anything at all. Because desire just cheats you. It's like a sunbeam skipping here and there about a room. It stops and gilds some inconsequential object, and we poor fools try to grasp it - but when we do the sunbeam moves on to something else, and you've got the inconsequential part, but the glitter that made you want it is gone. — F Scott Fitzgerald

If the Commission is to enquire into the conditions "to be observed," it is to be presumed that they will give the result of their enquiries; or, in other words, that they will lay down, or at least suggest, "rules" and "conditions to be (hereafter) observed" in the construction of bridges, or, in other words, embarrass and shackle the progress of improvement to-morrow by recording and registering as law the prejudices or errors of to-day. [Objecting to any interference by the State with the freedom of civil engineers in the conduct of their professional work.] — Isambard Kingdom Brunel

I feel there should be blacks in every Party. — Charles Evers

All the arguments in the world and it boiled down to he couldn't let her come to harm because of him. Bloody chivalrous side, it would emerge at the most inopportune times.
Since when do I have fucking morals? And how do I get rid of them? Morals got in the way of violence and revenge. And Gene did so enjoy dishing out violent vengeance. — Eve Langlais

I think Isambard Kingdom Brunel would be a good chap to have supper with. Anyone who builds a railway and then builds a steamship when he gets to Bristol and can't go any further must be a good chap. — Fergus Henderson

He'd experienced the lovely warm feeling of a bad job well done. — Terry Pratchett

Aeroplanes are not designed by science, but by art in spite of some pretence and humbug to the contrary. I do not mean to suggest that engineering can do without science, on the contrary, it stands on scientific foundations, but there is a big gap between scientific research and the engineering product which has to be bridged by the art of the engineer. — Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Once more Isambard looked completely terrified. Twice in one night! This was going to be a diary entry for the ages. — Lia Habel

There aren't any real strong people anywhere. Only people who can put on a good show of being strong. — Haruki Murakami

All that the unsuspecting Bilbo saw that morning was an old man with a staff. He had a tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, a silver scarf over which his long white beard hung down below his waist, and immense black boots.
"Good morning!" said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat.
"What do you mean?" he said. "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I wish it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?"
"All of them at once," said Bilbo. "And a very fine morning for a pipe of tobacco out of doors, into the bargain." Then Bilbo sat down on a seat by his door, crossed his legs, and blew out a beautiful grey ring of smoke that sailed up into the air without breaking and floated away over The Hill. — J.R.R. Tolkien

I am going to design ... a Station after my own fancy; that is, with engineering roofs, etc. — Isambard K. Brunel

I represent to you all the sins you have never had the courage to commit. — Oscar Wilde

If we must have heroes and wars whereinto make them, there is no war so brilliant as a war with the wrong, no hero so fit to be sung, as he who has gained the bloodless VICTORY of truth and mercy. — Isambard Kingdom Brunel

That is very fine; but it is impossible to make the men perfect; the men will always remain the same as they are now; and no legislation will make a man have more presence of mind, or, I believe, make him more cautious; and besides that, the next time such an accident occurs, the circumstances will be so different, that the instructions given to the men, in consequence of the former accident, will not apply. — Isambard Kingdom Brunel

I have no organisational skills. All my energy goes into worry - worrying takes a lot of energy. — Rita Rudner