Voices of Wit, War and Wisdom in the century we lived in

"The Oxford Dictionary of 20th Century Quotation"
Edited by Elizabeth Knowles
Oxford University Press


We have just begun living in the 21st century, and we have not quite left behind the last 100 years. And, as we move farther away from the last century, we will be more and more fascinated by its uniqueness. So, whenever you see a book that puts in one volume the thoughts, speeches, essays, poems and songs of the 20th century, buy it.
I usually do.

When we had not yet crossed the great divide between the 20th century and the 21st, it was different. Anything could be added still to a period that had not ended. But when the 20th century truly came to a close, we – in a manner of speaking – have crossed a vast river and, from the other side, we now see -- with conscious detachment -- the completed 100 years like a different world all its own.

We are moved by songs and jolted by bursts of gunfire; we laugh at human foibles and rue costly errors; we are amused by petty quarrels and irritated by baseless anxieties; we are amazed by the changed lifestyles, thanks to technologies which run at the speed of light – and, yes, we are invariably touched by whirlwind loves won and carefully nurtured loves lost. At any rate, since we have the necessary detachment, we see and learn more.

The same can be said of having in one’s hands “The Oxford Dictionary of 20th Century Quotations,” which can truly be said to reflect the century that has brought about historic speeches, excerpts from novels, poetic lines, prayers, screenplay lines, news dispatches, poignant farewells from the gallows and all-too-candid interviews.

There are quoted words so powerful they dethroned a king or demolished a kingdom. You get excerpts from orations that moved troops in a frenzy for war and radio broadcasts that inspired troops to march with determined strides to end such a war. Words that awakened the hearts of blacks fighting for equality, and ringing lines like Ich bin ein Berliner before a roaring audience that might have helped bring down the Berlin wall and other walls in the Iron Curtain.

You get quotes from people you love -- like Winston Churchill and Marilyn Monroe, and those you love to hate like Adolf Hitler and Stalin.

And truly reflecting the 20th century, the book has special sections on advertising slogans -- like this 1936 ad, “Don’t be vague, ask for Haig”; or that 1917 ad line for Palmolive soap that is now part of our language: “Keep that schoolgirl complexion.” The book also features such catch phrases as “The butler did it!” dated at 1916, but actually cannot be traced, and “Keep on truckin’,” used by Robert Crumb in 1972 cartoons. Yes, epitaphs were also fashionable in the last century, written by friends or pre-written by the would-be dead: “Here lies Groucho Marx – and lies and lies and lies. P.S. He never kissed an ugly girl.” This was Groucho’s own suggestion for his epitaph. What about these moving words on the centotaph at Hiroshima, Japan: “Rest in peace. The mistake shall not be repeated.”

You’ll have some famous film lines which you can now knowledgeably trace to their origins like this one from “Gone with the Wind, spoken by Clark Gable: “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!” alongside this one tenderly said by Humphrey Bogart to Ingrid Bergman, “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

Some newspaper headlines have also joined the quotable quotes hall of fame – like this embarrassing banner headline in Chicago Tribune which anticipated the result of a U.S. Presidential election: “Dewey Defeats Truman.” Remember some fearless forecasts in our own national elections? On road advice, we have this sign that is traced to 1912 yet: “Stop-look-listen.” Today, this sign can apply to top decision-making in the country. Will somebody up there stop, look and listen? Maybe, he should wake up first!

And finally, the book gives us some words that have actually been “Misquotations.” Do you know that the line “Me Tarzan, you Jane,” supposedly in a Johnny Weissmuller movie, is actually neither in the film nor in the original work by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the author? Well, no matter. In our case, especially in a chaperoned date, it is usually a “Me Tarzan, you Jane, she Cheetah” situation!

This book has 482 pages of quotes and more quotes. It has a key word index running through 129 pages to give you just the right quote to spice up a speech or to punctuate a toast. There is also a thematic index in case you have a writer’s block and you need just a little push to recharge your mental batteries.

A copy of a book of thoughtfully selected quotations is always a treasure. A book that captures the heartbeat of a century just concluded is both treasure chest'; return true;" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 3px double; TEXT-DECORATION: none" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=22&k=treasure%20chest">treasure chest and mirror.
Altogether, the quotes show us part of a lifetime we participated in. We have heard some of these quotes. In fact, we heard ourselves uttering them. The difference is the quoted people in this anthology said it better.

If you were ever part of the 20th century, get this book. You will be listening to yourself.