Hoyt & Roberts, comps. Hoyts New Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations. 1922.
Prophecy
Be thou the rainbow to the storms of life! The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, And tints to-morrow with prophetic ray! ByronBride of Abydos. Canto II. St. 20.
Of all the horrid, hideous notes of woe, Sadder than owl-songs or the midnight blast; Is that portentous phrase, I told you so. ByronDon Juan. Canto XIV. St. 50.
Bene qui conjiciet, vatem hunc perhibebo optimum. I shall always consider the beet guesser the best prophet. CiceroDe Divinatione. II. 5. (Greek adage.)
From hence, no question, has sprung an observation confirmed now into a settled opinion, that some long experienced souls in the world, before their dislodging, arrive to the height of prophetic spirits. ErasmusPraise of Folly. (Old translation.)
Prophet of evil! never hadst thou yet A cheerful word for me. To mark the signs Of coming mischief is thy great delight, Good dost thou neer foretell nor bring to pass. HomerIliad. Bk. I. L. 138. Bryants trans.
A tunnel underneath the sea from Calais straight to Dover, Sir, The squeamish folks may cross by land from shore to shore, With sluices made to drown the French, if eer they would come over, Sir, Has long been talkd of, till at length tis thought a monstrous bore. Theodore HookBubbles of 1825. In John Bull, 1825.
This solemn moment of triumph, one of the greatest moments in the history of the world this great hour which rings in a new era and which is going to lift up humanity to a higher plane of existence for all the ages of the future. David Lloyd George. Speech at Guildhall after the signing of the Armistice, Nov. 11, 1918.
It takes a mind like Dannels, fact, ez big ez all oudoors To find out thet it looks like rain arter it fairly pours. LowellBiglow Papers. No. 9. L. 97.
There is a history in all mens lives, Figuring the nature of the times deceasd, The which observed, a man may prophesy With a near aim, of the main chance of things As yet not come to life, which in their seeds And weak beginnings lie intreasured. Henry IV. Pt. II. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 80.
Prognostics do not always prove prophecies, at least the wisest prophets make sure of the event first. Horace WalpoleLetter to Thos. Walpole. Feb. 9, 1785.