“
I mean, if you're asking a fellow to come out of a room so that you can dismember him with a carving knife, it's absurd to tack a 'sir' on to every sentence. The two things don't go together.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves (Jeeves, #5))
“
Jeeves, you really are a specific dream-rabbit."
"Thank you, miss. I am glad to have given satisfaction.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Code of the Woosters (Jeeves, #7))
“
He made a noise like a pig swallowing half a cabbage,
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
You can’t tell me if there are any special subjects to avoid when talking to him, can you?’ ‘Special subjects?’ ‘Well, you know how it is with a stranger. You say it’s a fine day, and he goes all white and tense, because you’ve reminded him that it was on a fine day that his wife eloped with the chauffeur.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
For a time the broken heart, and then suddenly the healing conviction that one is jolly well out of it.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
You don’t get any five shillings out of me.’ ‘Oh, all right.’ He sat silent for a space. ‘Things happen to guys that don’t kick in their protection money,’ he said dreamily.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
[On writing Jeeves and Wooster stories]:
You tell yourself that you can take Jeeves stories or leave them alone, that one more can't possibly hurt you, because you know you can pull up whenever you feel like it, but it is merely wish-full thinking. The craving has gripped you and there is no resisting it.
You have passed the point of no return.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves (Jeeves #2, 5, 7))
“
I did not rush in with the vim I would have displayed a year or so earlier, before Life had made me the grim, suspicious man I am to-day:
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
Jeeves," I said, "those spats."
"Yes, sir?"
"You really dislike them?"
"Intensely, sir."
"You don't think time might induce you to change your views?"
"No, sir."
"All right, then. Very well. Say no more. You may burn them."
"Thank you very much, sir. I have already done so. Before breakfast this morning. A quiet grey is far more suitable, sir. Thank you, sir.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse
“
It may work, Jeeves. It is, at least, worth trying. I shall now leave you, to prepare myself for the ordeal before me with silent meditation.’ ‘Your tea will be here in a moment, sir.’ ‘No, Jeeves. This is no time for tea. I must concentrate.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
Those who know Bertram Wooster best are aware that he is a man of sudden, strong enthusiasms and that, when in the grip of one of these, he becomes a remorseless machine—tense, absorbed, single-minded.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
We part, then, for the nonce, do we?'
'I fear so, sir.'
'You take the high road, and self taking the low road, as it were?'
'Yes, sir.'
'I shall miss you, Jeeves.'
'Thank you, sir.'
'Who was that chap who was always beefing about gazelles?'
'The poet Moore, sir. He complained that he had never nursed a dear gazelle, to glad him with its soft black eye, but when it came to know him well, it was sure to die.'
'It's the same with me. I am a gazelle short. You don't mind me alluding to you as a gazelle, Jeeves?'
'Not at all, sir.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Joy in the Morning (Jeeves, #8))
“
He put the good old cup of tea softly on the table by my bed, and I took a refreshing sip. Just right, as usual. Not too hot, not too sweet, not to weak, not too strong, not too much milk, and not a drop spilled in the saucer. A most amazing cove, Jeeves. So dashed competent in every respect.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
Let us say, then, that at some point—five, ten, fifteen, or it may have been twenty minutes later—I became aware of somebody coughing softly at my side like a respectful sheep trying to attract the attention of its shepherd, and with how can I describe what thankfulness and astonishment I perceived Jeeves.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
shaven lawns, and a general atmosphere of what is known as old-world peace. Cows were
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
She paused, and heaved a sigh that seemed to come straight up from the cami-knickers. A silence ensued.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
hoping that this was some jolly practical joke and that the real chap would shortly jump out from behind a chair and say “Boo!
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
What ho, Stinker.’ ‘Hallo, Bertie.’ ‘Long time since we met.’ ‘It is a bit, isn’t it?’ ‘I hear you’re a curate now.’ ‘Yes, that’s right.’ ‘How are the souls?
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
Until tonight I saw him only through the golden mist of love, and thought him the perfect man. This evening he revealed himself as what he really is – a satyr.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
Not only had its expression, as he spoke of Pauline, been that of a stuffed frog with a touch of the Soul’s Awakening about it, but it
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
Into the emotional scene which followed I need not go in detail. You will have witnessed much the same sort of thing in the pictures, when the United States Marines arrive in the nick of time to relieve the beleaguered garrison. I may sum it up by saying that he fawned upon me.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
As two-seaters go, I had always found mine fairly comfortable, but then I had never before tried to get the eight hours in it, and you would be surprised at the number of knobs and protuberances which seem suddenly to sprout out of a car's upholstery when you seek to convert it into a bed.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves (Jeeves, #5))
“
And of all the objects under my immediate advisement I noted this yacht with the most pleasure and approval. White in colour, in size resembling a young liner, it lent a decided tone to the Chuffnell Regis foreshore.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
A man thinks he is being chilled steel – or adamant, if you prefer the expression – and suddenly the mists clear away and he finds that he has allowed a girl to talk him into something frightful. Samson had the same experience with Delilah.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
By the way, I may have misled you by using the word 'tea'. None of your wafer slices of bread-and-butter. We're good trencher-men, we of the Revolution. What we shall require will be something on the order of scrambled eggs, muffins, jam, ham, cake and sardines. Expect us at five sharp."
"But, I say, I'm not quite sure - "
"Yes, you are. Silly ass, don't you see that this is going to do you a bit of good when the Revolution breaks loose? When you see old Rowbotham sprinting up Piccadilly with a dripping knife in each hand, you'll be jolly thankful to be able to remind him that he once ate your tea and shrimps.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Inimitable Jeeves (Jeeves, #2))
“
And he was, one could see, at peace with all the world. His daily round of tasks may or may not have been completed, but he was obviously off duty for the moment, and his whole attitude was that of a policeman with nothing on his mind but his helmet.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
The effect now was much the same as if I had been listening in to a dramatic sketch on the wireless. I got the voices, but I missed the play of expression. And I’d have given a lot to be able to see it. Not Jeeves’s, of course, because Jeeves never has any.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
I suppose you haven’t breakfasted?”
“I have not yet breakfasted.”
“Won’t you have an egg or something? Or a sausage or something? Or something?”
“No, thank you.”
She spoke as if she belonged to an anti-sausage society or a league for the suppression of eggs.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest)
“
I suppose you haven't breakfasted?” “I have not yet breakfasted.” “Won't you have an egg or something? Or a sausage or something? Or something?” “No, thank you.” She spoke as if she belonged to an anti-sausage society or a league for the suppression of eggs. There was a bit of a silence.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (My Man Jeeves)
“
In love with me. Don't be absurd."
"My dear old thing, you don't know young Bingo. He can fall in love with anybody."
"Thank you!"
"Oh, I didn't mean it that way, you know. I don't wonder at his taking to you. Why, I was in love with you myself once."
"Once? Ah! And all that remains now are the cold ashes? This isn't once of your tactful evenings, Bertie."
"Well, my dear sweet thing, dash it all, considering that you gave me the bird and nearly laughed yourself into a permanent state of hiccoughs when I asked you - "
"Oh, I'm not reproaching you. No doubt there were faults on both sides. He's very good-looking, isn't he?"
"Good-looking? Bingo? Bingo good-looking? No, I say, come now, really!"
"I mean, compared with some people," said Cynthia.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Inimitable Jeeves (Jeeves, #2))
“
He returned with the tissue-restorer. I loosed it down the hatch, and after undergoing the passing discomfort, unavoidable when you drink Jeeves’s patent morning revivers, of having the top of the skull fly up to the ceiling and the eyes shoot out of their sockets and rebound from the opposite wall like racquet balls, felt better. It
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
Then they appeared to ooze off, for all became quiet save for the lapping of the waves on the shore. And, by Jove, so sedulously did these waves lap that gradually a drowsiness crept over me and not ten minutes after I had made up my mind that I should never get to sleep again in this world I was off as comfortably as a babe or suckling.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
Você pode levar Maomé até o altar, Jeeves, mas não pode forçá-lo a casar com a montanha
”
”
wodehouse-p-g (Thank You, Jeeves (Jeeves, #5))
“
I sank into a c. and passed an agitated h. over the b.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
ought I to dress it? What I mean is, the first act
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
I MUST SAY I was pretty well a-twitter. It was about as juicy a biff as I had had for years.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
Yes, sir. The mathematician Archimedes is related to have discovered the principle of displacement quite suddenly one morning, while in his bath.’ ‘Well, there you are. And I don’t suppose he was such a devil of a chap. Compared with you, I mean.’ ‘A gifted man, I believe, sir. It has been a matter of general regret that he was subsequently killed by a common soldier.’ ‘Too bad. Still, all flesh is as grass, what?
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
You should have seen him. Such a kind smile. He said you would be delighted to help me.’ ‘He did, eh?’ ‘He spoke most highly of you.’ ‘Really?’ ‘Oh, yes, he thinks a lot of you. I remember his very words. “Mr Wooster, miss,” he said, “is, perhaps, mentally somewhat negligible, but he has a heart of gold.” He said that as he was lowering me from the side of the boat by a rope, having first made sure that the coast was clear. I couldn’t dive, you see, because of the splash.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
Upon Mr Stoker replying that he did not care what he had promised or what he had not promised and continuing to asseverate that not a penny of his money should be expended in the direction indicated, his lordship, I regret to say, became somewhat unguarded in his speech.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
I can conceive that after what occurred in New York it might be distressing for you to encounter Miss Stoker, sir. But I fancy the contingency need scarcely arise.’ I weighed this. ‘When you start talking about contingencies arising, Jeeves, the brain seems to flicker and I rather miss the gist. Do you mean that I ought to be able to keep out of her way?
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves)
“
I have had a fatiguing day, and I feel a need for the lights and the wine. Both of these, I should imagine, may be had in Bristol. And there ought to be a show of some kind playing there, don't you think? It's one of the Number One touring towns.'
He sighed slightly. All this talk of my going to shows was distressing him. What he really wanted was to see me sprinting down Park Lane with the mob after me with dripping knives.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Thank You, Jeeves (Jeeves, #5))
“
many authors think nothing of saying ‘Ready, Miss Spelvin? Take dictation. Quote No comma Lord Jasper Murgatroyd comma close quote said no better make it hissed Evangeline comma quote I would not marry you if you were the last man on earth close quote period Quote Well comma, I’m not the last man on earth comma so the point does not arise comma close quote replied Lord Jasper comma twirling his moustache cynically period And so the long day wore on.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (The Jeeves Omnibus Vol. 1: Thank You, Jeeves / The Code of the Woosters / The Inimitable Jeeves)
“
It's this book Daddy wrote about preparatory schools. He wrote a book about preparatory schools. Did you know he had written a book about preparatory schools?'
'Hadn't an inkling. Nobody tells me anything.'
'Well, he wrote this book about preparatory schools. It was about preparatory schools.'
'About preparatory schools, was it?'
'Yes, about preparatory schools.'
'Thank God we've got that straightened out at last. I had a feeling we should get somewhere if we dug long enough.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (How Right You Are, Jeeves (Jeeves, #12))
“
I'm in sore straits, Jeeves.'
'I am sorry to hear that, sir.'
'You'll be sorrier when I explain further. Have you ever seen a garrison besieged by howling savages, with their ammunition down to the last box of cartridges, the water supply giving our and the United States Marines nowhere in sight?'
'Not to my recollection, sir.'
'Well, my position is roughly that of such a garrison, except that compared with me they're sitting pretty. Compared with me they haven't a thing to worry about.'
'You fill me with alarm, sir.'
'I bet I do, and I haven't even started yet. I will begin by saying that Miss Cook, to whom I'm engaged, is a lady for whom I have the utmost esteem and respect, but on certain matters we do not... what's the expression?'
'See eye to eye, sir?'
'That's right. And unfortunately those matters are the what-d'you-call-it of my whole policy. What is it that policies have?'
'I think the word for which you are groping, sir, may possibly be cornerstone.'
'Thank you, Jeeves. She disapproves of a variety of things which are the cornerstone of my policy. Marriage with her must inevitably mean that I shall have to cast them from my life, for she has a will of iron and will have no difficulty in making her husband jump through hoops and snap sugar off his nose. You get what I mean?'
'I do, sir. A very colourful image.'
'Cocktails, for instance, will be barred. She says they are bad for the liver. Have you noticed, by the way, how frightfully lax everything's getting now? In Queen Victoria's day a girl would never have dreamed of mentioning livers in mixed company.'
'Very true, sir. Tempora mutanter, nos et mutamur in illis.'
'That, however, is not the worst.'
'You horrify me, sir.'
'At a pinch I could do without cocktails. It would be agony, but we Woosters can rough it. But she says I must give up smoking.'
'This was indeed the most unkindest cut of all, sir.'
'Give up smoking, Jeeves!'
'Yes, sir. You will notice that I am shuddering.
”
”
P.G. Wodehouse (Aunts Aren't Gentlemen (Jeeves, #15))
“
Yeah, Dean, ‘fun.’ Three-letter word meaning ‘enjoyment.’”
“Thank you, Ask Jeeves.
”
”
Keith R.A. DeCandido.