Plaintively Quotes & Sayings

What am I going to do with all these bodies?" Said Jimmy, just a bit plaintively."I can't keep them, I don't have the cupboard space. — Simon R. Green

When a schedule is not met, those inclined to pass out blame are quick to point at the lowest-level workers; they reason that performance is the domain entirely of those who perform the work. They ask plaintively, "Why can't these guys ever meet their schedules?" The answer that the schedule might have been wrong in the first place only befuddles them. It's as though they believe there is no such thing as a bad schedule, only bad performances that resulted in missing the scheduled date. There is such a thing as a bad schedule. A bad schedule is one that sets a date that is subsequently missed. That's it. That's the beginning and the end of how a schedule should be judged. If the date is missed, the schedule was wrong. It doesn't matter why the date was missed. The purpose of the schedule was planning, not goal-setting. Work that is not performed according to a plan invalidates the plan. The missed schedule indicts the planners, not the workers. — Tom DeMarco

Go live your dreams. It is your only daring adventure. — Lailah Gifty Akita

Thought flies and words go on foot. — Julien Green

You know how everything seems so normal when you're growing up," she asked plaintively, "and then comes this moment when you realize your whole family is nuts? — Karen Joy Fowler

the cow crossly shook her head and craned her neck, mooing plaintively, and beyond the black barns of Meliuzeievo the stars twinkled, and invisible threads of sympathy stretched between them and the cow as if there were cattle sheds in other worlds where she was pitied. Everything — Boris Pasternak

Everybody in!" I said.
Which was when we discovered the final problem.
Little Echos aren't designed to hold six, count them six, larger-than-average-sized children.
And their wings.
And a dog.
"This is like a clown car," Total grumbled front my lap in the front seat.
"Why does the dog get to sit in your lap?' Gazzy asked plaintively, as we rattled and banged down the dark streets. "How about a kid?"
"Oh. 'The dog.' Very nice," said Total.
"Because you're not allowed to have people on your lap in the front seats," I explained. "It's not safe. If a cop saw us, we'd be stopped for sure. You want Total back there?"
Everyone in the back screamed no at the same time. — James Patterson

People learn from their failures. Seldom do they learn anything from success." It's — Ryan Holiday

He remembered once hearing his grandmother ... say plaintively: Why daughter, I presume I can go without
BUT I CAN'T ECONOMIZE. — Edith Wharton

I grew up with the religion of 'Star Wars,' frankly. That's when I realized there is something bigger out there ... and it's called The Force. — Trey Parker

I feel like I'm a much better person when I'm developing my imagination and my innocence and my vulnerability. I like that version of me better than the version where I'm just working on my analytical mind. — Brit Marling

I want to go home, Peeta," I say plaintively, like a small child. "You will. I promise," ... — Suzanne Collins

Alas, it is too true. I visited him this morning and found him en deshabille, clasping his brown. He seized on me and demanded a rhyme to some word which I have forgot. So I left him."
"Can no one convince Philippe that he is not a poet?" asked De Bergeret plaintively.
De Vangrisse shook his head. — Georgette Heyer

I don't wake up drenched in sweat because I haven't been on stage in years. — John Malkovich

Fly, you fools!' he cried, and was gone. — J.R.R. Tolkien

Haven't you got any romance in your soul?" said Magrat plaintively. "No," said Granny. "I ain't. And stars don't care what you wish, and magic don't make things better, and no one doesn't get burned who sticks their hand in a fire. If you want to amount to anything as a witch, Magrat Garlick, you got to learn three things. What's real, what's not real, and what's the difference. — Terry Pratchett

The yearning sadness of a farewell stole plaintively across her heart as she recalled those sweet sessions when she stood with him in the shadowy upper reaches of the street listening to his murmured tale of woe. She felt that happiness being furtively withdrawn, stolen by sly hands which she could not resist. No longer would he feed the deep longing in her heart; no more could she escape, through him, those bleak lonelinesses which sometimes stole upon her. — Walter Greenwood

She wasn't religious. She didn't believe in heaven or hell, only in ghosts, Ouija boards, tables which rapped and little inept voices speaking plaintively of flowers — Graham Greene

She remembers that when she first moved here, a woman who had been in Hong Kong for six years had confided plaintively: I feel like my real life is on pause. It's nice here, and I like all the help and the vacations, but I'm ready now. I'm ready to resume my real life, and now all I feel like I'm doing is waiting. — Janice Y.K. Lee

plaintively. Ford — Douglas Adams

You didn't have to rip my dress," she said plaintively when he let her breathe. "I love this one. Nellie worked on it for days." "I'm sorry, lass," he said somberly. " 'Twas an accident, lass. Sometimes I forget my strength. I mean to be gentle but it doesn't come out that way. Can you forgive me? — Karen Marie Moning

To those who view the voyage of life from the port of departure the bark that has accomplished any considerable distance appears already in close approach to the farther shore. — Ambrose Bierce

Ben Adaephon Delat," Pearl said plaintively, "see the last who comes. You send me to my death."
"I know," Quick Ben whispered.
"Flee, then. I will hold them enough to ensure your escape no more."
Quick Ben sank down past the roof.
Before he passed from sight Pearl spoke again. "Ben Adaephon Delat, do you pity me?"
"Yes" he replied softly, then pivoted and dropped down into darkness. — Steven Erikson

Oh, Marigold!" Lymond spoke plaintively. "A silken tongue, a heart of cruelty. Don't berate us. We're only poor scoundrels - vagabonds - scraps of society; unlettered and untaught. — Dorothy Dunnett

Every time Salim saab comes to Bharatpur,' the Maharaja used to say plaintively, 'he takes two species off my menu. — Zafar Futehally

I had a long period of writing what I think of as 'save the world' novels. 'Fledgling' was a chance to play. — Octavia E. Butler

And now, at last, gaiaphage and Nemesis stood facing each other.
"Why didn't you just ... fade?" Gaia demanded plaintively.
"You hit me," Nemesis said. It was a little boy's voice coming from Caine's mouth. "And that's not okay. — Michael Grant

The birds disturbed from the network of waterways beneath the barges wheeled in the sky, calling plaintively. — Iain M. Banks

I said you lie, knave!" shouted Beaumains, drawing his sword. "And for telling such craven falsehoods, you must die!"
The knight looked plaintively at Roger. "What's wrong with this fellow?"
He was dropped on his head when he was a baby," answered Roger. — Gerald Morris

Now, where were we?" he said. "Oh, yes. We were about to have some honest conversation. Roadkill, are you in love with Hawk?"
Roadkill sighed and asked plaintively, "Can't we just go back to prison? — Agatha Bird