George Borrow

“It has been said that idleness is the parent of mischief, which is very true; but mischief itself is merely an attempt to escape from the dreary vacuum of idleness.”

“Two great talkers will not travel far together.”

“Next to the love of God, the love of country is the best preventive of crime.”

“Youth will be served, every dog has his day, and mine has been a fine one.”

“Translation is at best an echo.”

“A losing trade, I assure you, sir: literature is a drug.”

“I am invariably of the politics of the people at whose table I sit, or beneath whose roof I sleep.”

“There’s the wind on the heath, brother; if I could only feel that, I would gladly live for ever.”

“Life is very sweet, brother; who would wish to die?”

“There are no countries in the world less known by the British than those selfsame British Islands.”