A. P. Herbert
A. P. Herbert
Sir Alan Patrick Herbert CH, also known as A. P. Herbert or simply A. P. H., was an English humorist, novelist, playwright and law reform activist who served as an independent Member of Parliamentfor Oxford University from the 1935 general election to the 1950 general election, when university constituencies were abolished...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionStatesman
Date of Birth24 September 1890
doe too-much
Let's stop somebody from doing something! Everybody does too much.
writing world tonight
For I must write to The Times tonight, and save the world from sin.
men smoking rude
aven, I have given up smoking again!... God! I feel fit. Homicidal, but fit. A different man. Irritable, moody, depressed, rude, nervy, perhaps; but the lungs are fine.
running rain fall
The rain is plentious but, by God's decree, Only a third is meant for you and me; Two-thirds are taken by the growing things Or vanish Heavenward on vapour's wings: Nor does it mathematically fall With social equity on one and all. The population's habit is to grow In every region where the water's low: Nature is blamed for failings that are Man's, And well-run rivers have to change their plans.
eye night light
Harriet, Hi! Light of my eye! Come to the pictures and have a good cry, For it's jolly old Saturday, Mad-as-a-hatter-day, Nothing-much-matter-day-night!
men law england
The Common Law of England has been laboriously built about a mythical figure-the figure of 'The Reasonable Man'.
time funny-marriage breakfast
The critical period of matrimony is breakfast-time.
play symphony would-be
There is no reason why a joke should not be appreciated more than once. Imagine how little good music there would be if, for example, a conductor refused to play Beethoven's Fifth Symphony on the ground that his audience might have heard it before.
noble purpose enjoy
An Englishman never enjoys himself, except for a noble purpose.
men political-opinions years
A man who has made up his mind on a given subject twenty-five years ago and continues to hold his political opinions after he has been proved to be wrong is a man of principle; while he who from time to time adapts his opinions to the changing circumstances of life is an opportunist.
kings men chance
The whole Constitution has been erected upon the assumption that the King not only is capable of doing wrong but is more likely to do wrong than other men if he is given the chance.
golf men games
Men who would face torture without a word become blasphemous at the short fourteenth. It is clear that the game of golf may well be included in that category of intolerable provocations which may legally excuse or mitigate behaviour not otherwise excusable.
sea boards trade
This high official, all allow, is grossly overpaid; there wasn't any Board, and now there isn't any Trade.
englishman enjoys except himself noble
The Englishman never enjoys himself except for a noble purpose.