Ernest Bramah

It is a mark of insincerity of purpose to spend one's time in looking for the sacred Emperor in the low-class tea-shops.

— Ernest Bramah

When struck by a thunderbolt it is unnecessary to consult the Book of Dates as to the precise meaning of the omen.

— Ernest Bramah

Although there exist many thousand subjects for elegant conversation, there are persons who cannot meet a cripple without talking about feet.

— Ernest Bramah

Before hastening to secure a possible reward of five taels by dragging an unobservant person away from a falling building, examine well his features lest you find, when too late, that it is one to whom you are indebted for double that amount.

— Ernest Bramah

In his countenance this person read an expression of no-encouragement towards his venture.

— Ernest Bramah

Should a person on returning from the city discover his house to be in flames, let him examine well the change which he has received from the chair-carrier before it is too late; for evil never travels alone.

— Ernest Bramah

At the mention of the name and offence of this degraded being a great sound went up from the entire multitude – a universal cry of execration, not greatly dissimilar from that which may be frequently heard in the crowded Temple of Impartiality when the one whose duty it is to take up, at a venture, the folded papers, announces that the sublime Emperor, or some mandarin of exalted rank, has been so fortunate as to hold the winning number in the Annual State Lottery.

— Ernest Bramah

Alas! It is well written, "The road to eminence lies through the cheap and exceedingly uninviting eating-houses."

— Ernest Bramah

At this display the elder and less attractive of the maidens fled, uttering loud and continuous cries of apprehension in order to conceal the direction of her flight.

— Ernest Bramah

It is well said: 'He who lacks a single tael sees many bargains,'" replied Sun Wei, a refined bitterness weighing the import of his words. "Truly this person's friends in the Upper Air are a never-failing lantern behind his back.

— Ernest Bramah

Do not adjust your sandals while passing through a melon-field, nor yet arrange your hat beneath an orange-tree.

— Ernest Bramah

After secretly observing the unstudied grace of her movements, the most celebrated picture-maker of the province burned the implements of his craft, and began life anew as a trainer of performing elephants.

— Ernest Bramah

The one-legged never stumble.

— Ernest Bramah

There are few situations in life that cannot be honourably settled, and without loss of time, either by suicide, a bag of gold, or by thrusting a despised antagonist over the edge of a precipice upon a dark night.

— Ernest Bramah

One learns to itch where one can scratch.

— Ernest Bramah

However deep you dig a well it affords no refuge in the time of flood.

— Ernest Bramah

Excellence," besought Kai Lung, not without misgivings,"how many warriors, each having some actual existence, are there in your never-failing band?""For all purposes save those of attack and defence there are fifteen score of the best and bravest, as their pay-sheets well attest," was the confident response. "In a strictly literal sense, however, there are no more than can be seen on a mist-enshrouded day with a resolutely closed eye.

— Ernest Bramah

He who has failed three times sets up as an instructor.

— Ernest Bramah

He is capable of any crime, from reviling the Classics to diverting water courses.

— Ernest Bramah

Eat in the dark the bargain that you purchased in the dusk.

— Ernest Bramah

One may ride upon a tiger's back but it is fatal to dismount.

— Ernest Bramah

Better a dish of husks to the accompaniment of a muted lute than to be satiated with stewed shark's fin and rich spiced wine of which the cost is frequently mentioned by the provider.

— Ernest Bramah

When an alluring woman comes in at the door," warningly traced the austere Kien-fi on the margin of his well-known essay, "discretion may be found up the chimney". It is incredible that beneath this ever-timely reminder an obscure disciple should have added the words: "The wiser the sage, the more profound the folly.

— Ernest Bramah