Lewis Carroll - Through the Looking-Glass (1871)

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Perhaps Looking-glass milk isn't good to drink.

Lewis Carroll
I can explain all the poems that were ever invented - and a good many that haven't been invented just yet.

Lewis Carroll
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

Lewis Carroll
"What's the use of their having names," the Gnat said, "if they won't answer to them?" "No use to them," said Alice; "but its useful to the people that name them, I suppose."

Lewis Carroll
The moon was shining sulkily, Because she thought the sun Had got no business to be there After the day was done —

Lewis Carroll
"Try another Subtraction sum. Take a bone from a dog: what remains?" [asked the Red Queen] Alice considered. "The bone wouldn't remain, of course, if I took it-and the dog wouldn't remain; it would come to bite me-and I'm sure I shouldn't remain!" "Then you think nothing would remain?" said the Red Queen. "I think that's the answer." "Wrong, as usual," said the Red Queen, "the dog's temper would remain."

Lewis Carroll
"I know what you're thinking about," said Tweedledum; "but it isn't so, nohow." "Contrariwise," continued Tweedledee, "if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic."

Lewis Carroll
"You see," he went on after a pause, "it's as well to be provided for everything. That's the reason the horse has anklets around his feet." "But what are they for?" Alice asked in a tone of great curiosity. "To guard against the bite of sharks," the Knight replied.

Lewis Carroll
"Look on the branch above your head," said the Gnat, "and there you'll find a Snap-dragon-fly. Its body is made of plum-pudding, its wings of holly-leaves, and its head is a raisin burning in brandy." "And what does it live on?" Alice asked, as before. "Frumenty and mince-pie," the Gnat replied; "and it makes its nest in a Christmas-box."

Lewis Carroll
"She can't do Subtraction." said the White Queen. "Can you do Division? Divide a loaf by a knife-what's the answer to that?" "I suppose-" Alice was beginning, but the Red Queen answered for her. "Bread-and-butter, of course."

Lewis Carroll
"How is bread made?" "I know that!" Alice cried eagerly. "You take some flour "Where do you pick the flower?" the White Queen asked. "In a garden or in the hedges?" "Well, it isn't picked at all," Alice explained: "it's ground — " "How many acres of ground?" said the White Queen. "You mustn't leave out so many things."

Lewis Carroll
You see it's like a portmanteau—there are two meanings packed up into one word.

Lewis Carroll
He was part of my dream, of course — but then I was part of his dream, too.

Lewis Carroll
The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright
And this was very odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

Lewis Carroll
One thing was certain, that the white kitten had had nothing to do with it: — it was the black kitten's fault entirely. For the white kitten had been having its face washed by the old cat for the last quarter of an hour (and bearing it pretty well, considering); so you see that it couldn't have had any hand in the mischief.

Lewis Carroll
Curtsy while you're thinking what to say. It saves time.

Lewis Carroll
"You know," he added very gravely, "it's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle — to get one's head cut off."

Lewis Carroll
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more —
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

Lewis Carroll
The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday—but never jam today.

Lewis Carroll
"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach."

Lewis Carroll
Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.

Lewis Carroll
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand.

Lewis Carroll
His answer trickled through my head,
Like water through a sieve.

Lewis Carroll
The other Messenger's called Hatta. I must have two you know—to come and go. One to come, and one to go.

Lewis Carroll
'The time has come,' the Walrus said,
'To talk of many things:
Of shoes—and ships—and sealing wax—
Of cabbages—and kings—
And why the sea is boiling hot—
And whether pigs have wings.'

Lewis Carroll
It isn't etiquette to cut anyone you've been introduced to. Remove the joint!

Lewis Carroll
Can you row?" the Sheep asked, handing her a pair of knitting-needles as she spoke. "Yes, a little—but not on land—and not with needles—" Alice was beginning to say.

Lewis Carroll
But answer came there none—
And this was scarcely odd because
They'd eaten every one.

Lewis Carroll
'There's nothing like eating hay when you're faint'…'I didn't say there was nothing better,' the King replied, 'I said there was nothing like it.'

Lewis Carroll
"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief Before his streaming eyes.

Lewis Carroll