dennis scharnberg

“There must be some explanation,” returned Mister Collins.

Trevor Walpole, The Imperfect Stranger. (1784)

“If they tell you the truth, it is by mistake. By mistake, old boy!”

Everson Dwight, Theory of Machines, a Novel.

“In the New World Order,” admitted Archie, “we’ll have to prove that we’re not smart.”

Lou Costello, Alicia Learns To Fly.

“Claudia’s problem is that she will neither come in nor go out.”

Christina Rubb, The Awful Puzzle.

“Perhaps Jack the Ripper was just curious about human anatomy,” suggested Edward, hoping to remove that awful smirk from Mindy’s face.

Roone Giddings, An Arrangement of Particles.

When the cataclysm hasn’t happened, those who predicted it seem foolish.

Hunter Hogarth, Raised by Wolves.

More odds and ends:

1. this wind roars
2. fluids flowing backwards
3. laughter of the dead
4. bark with slow leakage
5. there’s nothing in it
6. fish of all faces
7. the opening of boxes
8. saline oblivion
9. troubled sleep
10. push button to lock

Tessa Fielding and Constance Gogarty, eds., A Book of Lists.

…so here is what they leave us with: Either follow or oppose.

Raymond Sapulpa, Circus Giganticus.

Anyone can destroy.

Godfrey Tooke, Collected Aphorisms.

And again Mr. Nichols was startled to find that people will think themselves to be subtle.

Trevor Walpole, The Imperfect Stranger. (1784)