Pretences Quotes

#1. You see with your eyes. This means you can be misled by charm, by outward appearance. By webs of glamour, by surface pretences. I do not see with my eyes. I see good and I see evil. Nothing else.

Neil Gaiman

#2. The war on Iraq was a disaster, clearly carried out under false pretences.

Joe Wilson

#3. True glory takes root, and even spreads; all false pretences, like flowers, fall to the ground; nor can any counterfeit last long.

Marcus Tullius Cicero

#4. People like me are blamed for curiosity; having lost part of our lives, we are apt to fill the gap from the lives of others. In this I am like the rest, and make no pretences.

Mary Renault

#5. PALMISTRY, n. The 947th method ... of obtaining money by false pretences [by] "reading character" in the wrinkles [of] the hand. The pretence is not altogether false ... for the wrinkles in every hand submitted plainly spell the word "dupe."

Ambrose Bierce

#6. All other swindlers upon earth are nothing to the self-swindlers, and with such pretences did I cheat myself.

Charles Dickens

#7. Civilization is a conspiracy. Modern life is the silent compact of comfortable folk to keep up pretences.

John Buchan

#8. Necessity hath no law. Feigned necessities, imaginary necessities, are the greatest cozenage men can put upon the Providence of God, and make pretences to break known rules by.

Oliver Cromwell

#9. I simply said he was a detective, and let it go at that, I should be obtaining the reader's interest under false pretences. He was really only a sort of detective, a species of sleuth. At Stafford's International Investigation Bureau, in the Strand,

P.G. Wodehouse

#10. And the downtrodden found refuge in dilapidation; and were happy there because it was theirs and no one else's; bare of pretences and expectations, this place became a haven of solace and a sanctum for peace.

C.M. Stunich

#11. After Mengistu consolidated his power in 1978, his personality gradually began to change. His ability to listen and his patience faded away. We could now see these qualities were pretences only; he had been putting on his best behavior in his bid for support.

Mengistu Haile Mariam

#12. Don't think, he'd said, because it was easier than saying, Take me for who I am.
He couldn't bear that suddenly. He wanted it without pretences, without excuses, his fingers curling hard into Laurent's hair.
'It's me,' said Damen. 'It's me, here with you. Say my name.'
'Damianos.

C.S. Pacat

#13. All Pretences of foretelling by Astrology, are Deceits; for this manifest Reason, because the Wise and Learned, who can only judge whether there be any Truth in this Science, do all unanimously agree to laugh at and despise it; and none but the poor ignorant Vulgar give it any Credit.

Jonathan Swift

#14. Old men and comets have been reverenced for the same reason: their long beards, and pretences to foretell events.

Jonathan Swift

#15. It go at that, I should be obtaining the reader's interest under false pretences. He was really only a sort of detective, a species of sleuth. At Stafford's International Investigation Bureau, in the Strand, where he was employed, they did not require

P.G. Wodehouse

#16. Some pretences daunt and discourage us, while others raise us to a brisk assurance.

Joseph Glanvill

#17. Pretences go a great way with men that take fair words and magisterial looks for current payment.

Roger L'Estrange

#18. Never destroy without thought your enemy's pretences; they are usually your best weapon against him.

Mary Renault

#19. She made you decent, and in return you made her so happy

David Nicholls

#20. The visionary mind takes many turns before settling on any specific path.

Jane Kirkpatrick

#21. Fancy clipped a scrap of newsprint to her canvas and wrote, I don't have friends.
Ilan's hand covered hers briefly as he plucked the charcoal from her hand and wrote beneath her words, you have me.

Dia Reeves

#22. I gave up practically the whole world for you," I tell him, walking through the front door of my own love story. "The sun, stars, ocean, trees, everything, I gave it all up for you.

Jandy Nelson

#23. Our fears and taboos are largely social conditions imposed upon us by the ruling powers in order to keep us opressed. They manipulate us with our fears. Now let us be fearless.

Kathy Change

#24. Be who you are,nobody likes to be copied!

Morgan Musseau