I know of few men over 50 that seem to me entirely human, virtually none who has long exercised authority.

- Patrick O'Brian

You are to consider that a certain melancholy and often a certain irascibility accompany advancing age: indeed it might be said that advancing age eq…

- Patrick O'Brian

There is a systematic flocci-nauci-nihili-pilification of all other aspects of existence that angers me.

- Patrick O'Brian

Never mind manoeuvres, always go at them.

- Patrick O'Brian

Wit is the unexpected copulation of ideas.

- Patrick O'Brian

We understood one another better before ever I opened my mouth

- Patrick O'Brian

Sir,’ said Stephen, ‘I read novels with the utmost pertinacity. I look upon them--I look upon good novels--as a very valuable part of literature, con…

- Patrick O'Brian

... it has always seemed to me that books are the supreme decorations of a room

- Patrick O'Brian

He sat on as the sun's rays came slowly down through the trees, lower and lower, and when the lowest reached a branch not far above him it caught a d…

- Patrick O'Brian