Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases

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... The day stunned me like light upon some wizard way The day was sweeter than honey and the honey-comb The day have trampled me like armed men The dead past flew away over the fens like a flight of wild swans The deep like one black maelstrom round her whirls The deepening east like a scarlet poppy burnt The desolate rocky hills rolled like a solid wave along the horizon The dome of heaven is like one drop of dew The dreams of poets come like music heard at evening from the depth of some enchanted forest The eagerness faded from his eyes, leaving them cold as a winter sky after sunset The earth was like a frying-pan, or some such hissing matter The eternal sea, which like a childless mother, still must croon her ancient sorrows to the cold white moon The evening sky was as green as jade The excitement had spread through the whole house, like a piquant and agreeable odor The excitement of the thought buoyed his high-strung temperament like a tonic The feathery meadows like a lilac sea The firm body like a slope of snow The first whiff of reality dissipated them like smoke The floor, newly waxed, gleamed in the candle-light like beaten moonbeams The fragrant clouds of hair, they flowed round him like a snare The gathering glory of life shone like the dawn The gesture was all strength and will, like the stretching of a sea-bird's wings The girl's voice rang like a bird-call through his rustling fancies The glimmer of tall flowers standing like pensive moon-worshipers in an ecstasy of prayerless bloom The guides sniffed, like chamois, the air [chamois = extremely agile goat antelope] The heavens are like a scroll unfurled The hills across the valley were purple as thunder-clouds The hoofs of the horses rang like the dumb cadence of an old saga The hours crawled by like years The hum of the camp sounds like the sea The hurrying crowds of men gather like clouds The ideas succeeded each other like a dynasty of kings The impalpable presence of the new century rose like a vast empty house through which no human feet had walked The inexorable facts closed in on him like prison-warders hand-cuffing a convict The lake glimmered as still as a mirror The land of gold seemed to hold him like a spell The land was like a dream The level boughs, like bars of iron across the setting sun The light of London flaring like a dreary dawn The lights blazed up like day The lilies were drooping, white, and wan, like the head and skin of a dying man The mellowing hand of time The melody rose tenderly and lingeringly like a haunting perfume of pressed flowers The Milky Way lay like diamond-dust upon the robe of some great king The monk's face whitened like sea-foam The moon drowsed between the trees like a great yellow moth The moon on the tower slept soft as snow The moonbeams rest like a pale spotless shroud The moonlight lay like snow The moonlight, like a fairy mist, upon the mesa spreads The mortal coldness of the soul, like death itself comes down The mountain shadows mingling, lay like pools above the earth The mountains loomed up dimly, like phantoms through the mist The music almost died away, then it burst like a pent-up flood The name that cuts into my soul like a knife The nervous little train winding its way like a jointed reptile The new ferns were spread upon the earth like some lacy coverlet The night like a battle-broken host is driven before The night yawned like a foul wind The ocean swelled like an undulating mirror of the bowl of heaven The old books look somewhat pathetically from the shelves, like aged dogs wondering why no one takes them for a walk The old infamy will pop into daylight like a toad out of fissure in the rock The penalty falls like a thunderbolt from heaven The phrase was like a spear-thrust The pine trees waved as waves a woman's hair The place was like some enchanted town of palaces The plains to northward change their color like the shimmering necks of doves The poppy burned like a crimson ember The prime of man has waxed like cedars The public press would chatter and make odd ambiguous sounds like a shipload of monkeys in a storm The purple heather rolls like dumb thunder The rainbows flashed like fire The river shouted as ever its cry of joy over the vitality of life, like a spirited boy before the face of inscrutable nature The roofs with their gables like hoods The roses lie upon the grass like little shreds of crimson silk The satire of the word cut like a knife The scullion with face shining like his pans The sea reeled round like a wine-vat splashing The sea-song of the trampling waves is as muffled bells The sea spread out like a wrinkled marble floor The sea, that gleamed still, like a myriad-petaled rose The sea was as untroubled as the turquoise vault which it reflected The setting of the sun is like a word of peace The sharp hail rattles against the panes and melts on my cheeks like tears The ships, like sheeted phantoms coming and going The silence seemed to crush to earth like a great looking-glass and shiver into a million pieces The silvery morning like a tranquil vision fills the world The sky burned like a heated opal The sky gleamed with the hardness and brilliancy of blue enamel The sky was as a shield that caught the stain of blood and battle from the dying sun The sky was clear and blue, and the air as soft as milk The sky was like a peach The sky where stars like lilies white and fair shine through the mists The solid air around me there heaved like a roaring ocean The solid mountains gleamed like the unsteady sea The soul is like a well of water springing up into everlasting life The sound is like a noon-day gale The sound is like a silver-fountain that springeth in a golden basin The sound of a thousand tears, like softly pattering wings The sound of your running feet that like the sea-hoofs beat The spear-tongued lightning slipped like a snake The Spring breaks like a bird The stacks of corn in brown array, like tattered wigwams on the plain The stars come down and trembling glow like blossoms on the waves below The stars lay on the lapis-lazuli sky like white flower-petals on still deep water [lapis-lazuli = opaque to translucent blue, violet-blue, or greenish-blue gemstone] The stars pale and silent as a seer The strange cold sense of aloofness that had numbed her senses suddenly gave way like snow melting in the spring The sudden thought of your face is like a wound when it comes unsought The sun, like a great dragon, writhes in gold The sun on the sea-wave lies white as the moon The surf was like the advancing lines of an unknown enemy flinging itself upon the shore The terrible past lay afar, like a dream left behind in the night The tide was in the salt-weed, and like a knife it tore The time, gliding like a dream The torrent from the hills leaped down their rocky stairways like wild steeds The tree whose plumed boughs are soft as wings of birds The uproar and contention pierced him like arrows The veiled future bowed before me like a vision of promise The velvet grass that is like padding to earth's meager ribs The villa dips its foot in the lake, smiling at its reflection like a bather lingering on the brink The voice of Fate, crying like some old Bellman through the world The voice that rang in the night like a bugle call The warm kindling blood burned her cheeks like the breath of a hot wind The waves were rolling in, long and lazy, like sea-worn travelers The whole truth, naked, cold, and fatal as a patriot's blade The wind all round their ears hissed like a flight of white-winged geese The wind comes and it draws its length along like the genii from the earthen pot The wine flows like blood The woman seemed like a thing of stone The words kept ringing in my ears like the tolling of a bell The words of the wise fall like the tolling of sweet, grave bells upon the soul The world had vanished like a phantasmagoria The world is bitter as a tear The world is in a simmer, like a sea The world wavers within its circle like a dream The years stretched before her like some vast blank page out to receive the record of her toil The years vanished like a May snowdrift The yellow apples glowed like fire Their glances met like crossed swords Their joy like sunshine deep and broad falls on my heart Their minds rested upon the thought, as chasing butterflies might rest together on a flower Their music frightful as the serpent's hiss Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting Then fall unheeded like the faded flower Then felt I like some watcher of the skies Then it swelled out to rich and glorious harmonies like a full orchestra playing under the sea Then the lover sighing like furnace Theories sprouted in his mind like mushrooms There is an air about you like the air that folds a star There, like a bird, it sits and sings There seemed to brood in the air a quiet benevolence of a Father watching His myriad children at play There she soars like a seraph There she stood straight as a lily on its stem There slowly rose to sight, a country like a dragon fast asleep There streamed into the air the sweet smell of crushed grass, as though many fields had been pressed between giant's fingers and so had been left These eyes like stars have led me These final words snapped like a whip-lash These thoughts pierced me like thorns They are as cruel as creeping tigers They are as white foam on the swept sands They are as white swans in the dusk, thy white hands They are painted sharp as death They broke into pieces and fell on the ground, like a silvery, shimmering shower of hail They dropped like panthers They fly like spray They had hands like claws They had slipped away like visions They have as many principles as a fish has bones They have faces like flowers They hurried down like plovers that have heard the call [plovers = wading birds] They look like rose-buds filled with snow They seem like swarming flies, the crowd of little men They seemed like floating flowers They shine as sweet as simple doves They stand like solitary mountain forms on some hard, perfectly transparent day They vanished like the shapes that float upon a summer's dream Thick as wind-blown leaves innumerable Thickly the flakes drive past, each like a childish ghost Thine eyes like two twin stars shining This life is like a bubble blown up in the air This love that dwells like moonlight in your face This thought is as death This tower rose in the sunset like a prayer Those ancestral themes past which so many generations have slept like sea-going winds over pastures Those death-like eyes, unconscious of the sun Those eyelids folded like a white rose-leaf Those eyes like bridal beacons shine Thou art to me but as a wave of the wild sea Thou as heaven art fair and young Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea Thou must wither like a rose Thou shalt be as free as mountain winds Thou wouldst weep tears bitter as blood Though bright as silver the meridian beams shine Though thou be black as night Thoughts vague as the fitful breeze Three-cornered notes fly about like butterflies Through the forest, like a fairy dream through some dark mind, the ferns in branching beauty stream Through the moonlit trees, like ghosts of sounds haunting the moonlight, stole the faint tinkle of a guitar Through the riot of his senses, like a silver blaze, ran the legend Thy beauty like a beast it bites Thy brown benignant eyes have sudden gleams of gladness and surprise, like woodland brooks that cross a sunlit spot Thy carven columns must have grown by magic, like a dream in stone Thy favors are but like the wind that kisses everything it meets Thy heart is light as a leaf of a tree Thy name burns like a gray and flickering candle flame Thy name will be as honey on men's lips Till death like sleep might steal on me Till he melted like a cloud in the silent summer heaven Time drops in decay, like a candle burnt out Time like a pulse shakes fierce To drag life on, which like a heavy chain lengthens behind with many a link of pain To forsake as the trees drop their leaves in autumn Toys with smooth trifles like a child at play Transitory as clouds without substance Transparent like a shining sun Tree and shrub altered their values and became transmuted to silver sentinels Trees that spread their forked boughs like a stag's antlers Trembling like an aspen-leaf Truths which forever shine as fixed stars Turning easily and securely as on a perfect axle U Unbends like a loosened bow Unbreakable as iron Unconscious as an oak-tree of its growth Under the willow-tree glimmered her face like a foam-flake drifting over the sea Unheralded, like some tornado loosed out of the brooding hills, it came to pass Unknown, like a seed in fallow ground, was the germ of a plan Unmoving as a tombstone Untameable as flies Unutterable things pressing on my soul like a pent-up storm craving for outlet Upcast like foam of the effacing tide Uplifting the soul as on dovelike wings Uplifting their stony peaks around us like the walls and turrets of a gigantic fortress Urgent as the seas Uttering wild cries like a creature in pain V Vague as a dream Vague thoughts that stream shapelessly through her mind like long sad vapors through the twilight sky Vanish into thin air, like ghosts at the cockcrow Vanished like snow when comes a thaw Vanished like vapor before the sun Vibrations set quivering like harp strings struck by the hand of a master Vociferous praise following like a noisy wave W Walking somewhat unsteadily like a blind man feeling his way Waves glittered and danced on all sides like millions of diamonds We left her and retraced our steps like faithless hounds Weak and frail like the vapor of a vale Wearing their wounds like stars Weary wind, who wanderest like the world's rejected guest When a draft might puff them out like a guttering candle [guttering = To melt through the side of the hollow in a candle formed by a burning wick; to burn low and unsteadily; flicker] When arm in arm they both came swiftly running, like a pair of turtle-doves that could not live asunder day or night When cards, invitations, and three-corn'd notes fly about like white butterflies When she died, her breath whistled like the wind in a keyhole When the fever pierced me like a knife Where a lamp of deathless beauty shines like a beacon Where heroes die as leaves fall Where the intricate wheels of trade are grinding on, like a mill Where the source of the waters is fine as a thread Whilst the lagging hours of the day went by like windless clouds o'er a tender sky Whistled sharply in the air like a handful of vipers White as a ghost from darkness White as chalk White as dove or lily, or spirit of the light White as the driven snow White as the moon's white flame White as the sea-bird's wing White clouds like daisies White hands she moves like swimming swans White hands through her hair, like white doves going into the shadow of a wood White like flame White sails of sloops like specters Whose bodies are as strong as alabaster Whose hair was as gold raiment on a king Whose laugh moves like a bat through silent haunted woods Whose little eyes glow like the sparks of fire Whose music like a robe of living light reclothed each new-born age Windy speech which hits all around the mark like a drunken carpenter Winged like an arrow to its mark With a sting like a scorpion With all the complacency of a homeless cat With an angry broken roar, like billows on an unseen shore, their fury burst With hate darkling as the swift winter hail With music sweet as love With sounds like breakers With strength like steel With the whisper of leaves in one's ear With words like honey melting from the comb Wits as sharp as gimlets [gimlet = small hand tool for boring holes] Women with tongues like polar needles Words as fresh as spring verdure [verdure = lush greenness of flourishing vegetation] Words as soft as rain Words like the gossamer film of the summer Words sweet as honey from his lips distill'd Words were flashing like brilliant birds through the boughs overhead Wordsworth, thy music like a river rolls Worthless like the conjurer's gold Wrangle over details like a grasping pawnbroker Wrinkled and scored like a dried apple Writhing with an intensity that burnt like a steady flame Y Yielding like melted snow Yonder flimsy crescent, bent like an archer's bow above the snowy summit You are as gloomy to-night as an undertaker out of employment You are as hard as stone You gave me such chill embraces as the snow-covered heights receive from clouds Your blood is red like wine Your charms lay like metals in a mine Your eyes are like fantastic moons that shiver in some stagnant lake Your eyes as blue as violets Your eyes they were green and gray like an April day Your frail fancies are swallowed up, like chance flowers flung upon the river's current Your hair was golden as tints of sunrise Your heart is as dry as a reed Your locks are like the raven Your love shall fall about me like sweet rain Your step's like the rain to summer vexed farmer Your thoughts are buzzing like a swarm of bees Your tongue is like a scarlet snake Your voice had a quaver in it just like the linnet [linnet = small finch] Youth like a summer morn SECTION IX CONVERSATIONAL PHRASES A A most extraordinary idea! A thousand hopes for your success Accept my best wishes All that is conjecture Allow me to congratulate you An unfortunate comparison, don't you think? And even if it were so? And how am I to thank you? And in the end, what are you going to make of it? And yet the explanation does not wholly satisfy me Apparently I was wrong Are we wandering from the point? Are you a trifle--bored? Are you fully reconciled? Are you not complicating the question? Are you prepared to go to that length? Are you still obdurate? [obdurate = Hardened in wrongdoing; stubbornly impenitent] As it happens, your conjecture is right Assuredly I do At first blush it may seem fantastic B Banish such thoughts But are you not taking a slightly one-sided point of view? But consider for a moment But I look at the practical side But I wander from my point But now I'll confide something to you But perhaps I'm hardly fair when I say that But seriously speaking, what is the use of it? But surely that is inconsistent But that's a tremendous hazard But the thing is simply impossible But there's one thing you haven't said But, wait, you haven't heard the end But what do you yourself think about it? But who could foresee what was going to happen? But you are open to persuasion? But you do not know for certain But you must tell me more By a curious chance, I know it very well By no means desirable, I think C Can I persuade you? Can you imagine anything so horrible? Certain circumstances make it undesirable Certainly not, if it displeases you Certainly, with the greatest pleasure Come, where's your sense of humor? Consult me when you want me--at any time D Decidedly so Dine with me to-morrow night?--if you are free? Do I presume too much? Do I seem very ungenerous? Do not misunderstand me Do not the circumstances justify it? Don't be so dismal, please Don't delude yourself Don't let me encroach on your good nature Don't think I am unappreciative of your kindness Do you attach any particular meaning to that? Do you know, I envy you that Do you know what his chief interests are now? Do you mind my making a suggestion? Do you press me to tell? Do you really regard him as a serious antagonist? Do you think there is anything ominous in it? Does it please you so tremendously? Does it seem incredible? E Either way is perplexing Eminently proper, I think Everyone looks at it differently Excuse my bluntness F Fanciful, I should say For the simplest of reasons Forgive me if I seem disobliging Fortunate, to say the least Frankly, I don't see why it should Frugal to a degree Fulsome praise, I call it G Give me your sympathy and counsel Glorious to contemplate Good! that is at least something Gratifying, I am sure H Happily there are exceptions to every rule Has it really come to that? Have I incurred your displeasure? Have you any rooted objection to it? Have you anything definite in your mind? Have you reflected what the consequences might be to yourself? He does me too much honor He feels it acutely He has a queer conception of the proprieties He is a poor dissembler [dissemble = conceal behind a false appearance] He is anything but obtuse He is so ludicrously wrong He is the most guileless of men He was so extremely susceptible He writes uncommonly clever letters Heaven forbid that I should wound your sensibility His sense of humor is unquenchable How amiable you are to say so How can I tell you how much I have enjoyed it all? How can I thank you? How can you be so unjust? How delightful to meet you How does the idea appeal to you? How droll you are! How extraordinary! How intensely interesting! How perfectly delightful! How utterly abominable How very agreeable this is! How very interesting How very surprising How well you do it! However, I should like to hear your views Human nature interests me very much indeed I I admire your foresight I admit it most gratefully I agree--at least, I suppose I do I agree that something ought to be done I always welcome criticism so long as it is sincere I am absolutely bewildered I am afraid I am not familiar enough with the subject I am afraid I cannot suggest an alternative I am afraid I've allowed you to tire yourself I am afraid I must confess my ignorance I am afraid you will call me a sentimentalist I am always glad to do anything to please you I am anxious to discharge the very onerous debt I owe you I am appealing to your sense of humor I am at your service I am bound to secrecy I am compelled to, unluckily I am curious to learn what his motive was I am deeply flattered and grateful I am delighted to hear you say so I am dumb with admiration I am entirely at your disposal I am extremely glad you approve of it I am far from believing the maxim I am fortunate in being able to do you a service I am glad to be able to think that I am glad to have had this talk with you I am glad to say that I have entirely lost that faculty I am glad you can see it in that way I am glad you feel so deeply about it I am giving you well-deserved praise I am going to make a confession I am grateful for your good opinion I am honestly indignant I am, I confess, a little discouraged I am in a chastened mood I am inclined to agree with you I am incredulous I am indebted to you for the suggestion I am listening--I was about to propose I am lost in admiration I am luckily disengaged to-day I am more grieved than I can tell you I am naturally overjoyed I am not a person of prejudices I am not an alarmist I am not as unreasonable as you suppose I am not at all in the secret of his ambitions I am not capable of unraveling it I am not going into sordid details I am not going to let you evade the question I am not going to pay you any idle compliments I am not impervious to the obligations involved I am not in sympathy with it I am not in the least surprised I am not inquisitive I am not prepared to say I am not sure that I can manage it I am not vindictive I am overjoyed to hear you say so I am perfectly aware of what I am saying I am persuaded by your candor I am quite convinced of that I am quite discomfited I am quite interested to see what you will do I am quite ready to be convinced I am rather of the opinion that I was mistaken I am ready to make great allowances I am really afraid I don't know I am really gregarious I am sensible of the flattery I am seriously annoyed with myself about it I am so glad you think that I am so sorry--so very sorry I am sorry to disillusionize you I am sorry to interrupt this interesting discussion I am sorry to say it is impossible I am speaking plainly I am still a little of an idealist I am suppressing many of the details I am sure it sounds very strange to you I am sure you could pay me no higher compliment I am sure you will hear me out I am surprised, I confess I am sustained by the prospect of a good dinner I am vastly obliged to you I am vastly your debtor for the information I am very far from being a fanatic I am very glad of this opportunity I am very grateful--very much flattered I am wholly in agreement with you I am willing to accept all the consequences I am wonderfully well I am wondering if I may dare ask you a very personal question? I am your creditor unawares I anticipate your argument I appreciate your motives I assure you it is most painful to me I assure you my knowledge of it is limited I bear no malice about that I beg your indulgence I beg your pardon, but you take it too seriously I brazenly confess it I can easily understand your astonishment I can explain the apparent contradiction I can find no satisfaction in it I can hardly agree with you there I can never be sufficiently grateful I can only tell you the bare facts I can scarcely accept the offer I can scarcely boast that honor I can scarcely imagine anything more disagreeable I can sympathize with you I cannot altogether acquit myself of interested motives I cannot explain it even to myself I cannot find much real satisfaction in it I cannot forbear to press my advantage I cannot imagine what you mean I cannot precisely determine I can't pretend to make a jest of what I'm going to say I cannot say definitely at the moment I cannot say that in fact it is always so I cannot see how you draw that conclusion I cannot thank you enough for all your consideration I compliment you on your good sense I confess, I find it difficult I could ask for nothing better I could never forgive myself for that I dare say your intuition is quite right I decline to commit myself beforehand I detest exaggeration I didn't mean that--exactly I do not comprehend your meaning I don't deny that it is interesting I don't doubt it for a moment I do not doubt the sincerity of your arguments I do not exactly understand you I do not feel sure that I entirely share your views I don't feel that it is my business I do not find it an unpleasant subject I don't insist on your believing me I don't justify my presumption I don't know quite why you should say that I don't know that I can do that I don't know when I have heard anything so lamentable I don't know why you should be displeased I don't make myself clear, I see I don't pretend to explain I don't see anything particularly wonderful in it I don't underrate his kindness I don't want to disguise that from you I don't want to exaggerate I don't want to seem critical I doubt the truth of that saying I endorse it, every word I entirely approve of your plan I fancy it's just that I fear I cannot help you I fear that's too technical for me I feel a certain apprehension I feel an unwonted sense of gaiety [unwonted = unusual] I feel it my duty to be frank with you I feel myself scarcely competent to judge I feel very grateful to you for your kind offer I find it absorbing I find it rather monotonous I find this agreeable mental exhilaration I frankly confess that I generally trust my first impressions I give my word gladly I give you my most sacred word of honor I had better begin at the beginning I had no intention of being offensive I hadn't thought of it in that light I hardly think that could be so I have a hundred reasons for thinking so I have a peculiar affection for it I have an immense faith in him I have been constrained by circumstances I have been decidedly impressed I have been longing to see more of you I have been puzzling over a dilemma I have every reason to think so I have given you the best proof of it I have gone back to my first impressions I have known striking instances of the kind I have never heard it put so well I have no delusions on that score I have not succeeded in convincing myself of that I have not the influence you think I have not the least doubt of it I haven't the remotest idea I have often a difficulty in deciding I have often marveled at your courage I have quite changed my opinion about that I have something of great importance to say to you I have sometimes vaguely felt it I have the strongest possible prejudice against it I heartily congratulate you I hope it will not seem unreasonable to you I hope we may meet again I hope you will forgive an intruder I hope you will not think me irreverent I hope you will pardon my seeming carelessness I indulge the modest hope I know it is very presumptuous I know my request will appear singular I like it immensely I like your frankness I make no reflection whatever I mean it literally I might question all that I mistrust these wild impulses I most certainly agree with you I most humbly ask pardon I must add my congratulations on your taste I must apologize for intruding upon you I must ask you one more question, if I may I must confess I have never thought of that I must refrain from any comment I must respectfully decline to tell you I must take this opportunity to tell you I need not remind you that you have a grave responsibility I never heard anything so absurd I offer my humblest apologies I owe the idea wholly to you I partly agree with you I personally owe you a great debt of thankfulness I place myself entirely at your service I place the most implicit reliance on your good sense I prefer to reserve my judgment I purposely evaded the question I quite appreciate the very clever way you put it I quite see what the advantages are I really am curious to know how you guessed that I realize how painful it must be to you I recollect it clearly I rely on your good sense I remember the occasion perfectly I resent that kind of thing I respect you for that I respect your critical faculty I say it in all modesty I see disapproval in your face I see it from a different angle I see you are an enthusiast I see your point of view I seem to have heard that sentiment before I shall at once proceed to forget it I shall await your pleasure I shall be glad if you will join me I shall be interested to watch it develop I shall be most proud and pleased I shall certainly take you at your word I shall feel highly honored I shall make a point of thinking so I shall never forget your kindness I shall respect your confidence I should appreciate your confidence greatly I should be very ungrateful were I not satisfied with it I should feel unhappy if I did otherwise I should like your opinion of it I should not dream of asking you to do so I should think it very unlikely I simply cannot endure it I spoke only in jest I stand corrected I suppose I ought to feel flattered I surmised as much I sympathize deeply with you I take that for granted I think extremely well of it I think he has very noble ideals I think I can answer that for you I think I know what you are going to say I think it has its charm I think it is superb! I think it quite admirable I think its tone is remarkably temperate I think that is rather a brilliant idea I think what you say is reasonable I think you are quibbling I think you are rather severe in your opinions I think you have great appreciation of values I think you have summed it up perfectly I think your candor is charming I thoroughly agree with you I thought it most amusing I thought you were seriously indisposed I trust you will not consider it an impertinence I understand exactly how you feel about it I understand your delicacy of feeling I venture to propose another plan I very rarely allow myself that pleasure I want to have a frank understanding with you I was at a loss to understand the reason for it I was hoping that I could persuade you I was on the point of asking you I was speaking generally I watched you with admiration I will answer you frankly I will listen to no protestations I will take it only under compulsion I will tell you what puzzles me I will think of it, since you wish it I will, with great pleasure I wish I could explain my point more fully I wish I knew what you meant by that I wish to be perfectly fair I wish to put things as plainly as possible I wonder how much truth there is in it? I wonder if you have the smallest recollection of me? I would agree if I understood I wouldn't put it just that way If ever I can repay it, command me If I mistake not you were there once? If I speak strongly, it is because I feel strongly If I were disposed to offer counsel If I were sure you would not misunderstand my meaning If you don't mind my saying so If you insist upon it If you will pardon me the frankness In a manner that sometimes terrifies me In one respect you are quite right In that case let me rob you of a few minutes In what case, for example? Incredible as it sounds, I had for a moment forgotten Indeed, but it is quite possible Indeed! How? Indeed, you are wholly wrong Indifferently so, I am afraid Irony was ten thousand leagues from my intention Is it sane--is it reasonable? Isn't it amazing? Isn't it extraordinarily funny? Isn't it preposterous? Isn't that a trifle unreasonable? Isn't that rather a hasty conclusion? Is that a fair question? It always seemed to me impossible It amuses you, doesn't it? It blunts the sensibilities It could never conceivably be anything but popular It depends on how you look at it It depends upon circumstances It doesn't sound plausible to me It has a lovely situation as I remember it It has amused me hugely It has been a relief to talk to you It has been an immense privilege to see you It has never occurred to me It is a curious fact It is a great pleasure to meet you It is a huge undertaking It is a most unfortunate affair It is a perfectly plain proposition It is a rather melancholy thought It is a truth universally acknowledged It is all very inexcusable It is all very well for you to be philosophical It is altogether probable It is an admirable way of putting it It is an error of taste It is an extreme case, but the principle is sound It is an ingenious theory It is an uncommonly fine description It is extremely interesting, I can assure you It is for you to decide It is historically true It is I who should ask forgiveness It is incredible! It is indeed generous of you to suggest it It is inexplicable It is interesting, as a theory It is literally impossible It is merely a mood It is most unfortunate It is my deliberately formed opinion It is my opinion you are too conscientious It is nevertheless true It is not a matter of the slightest consequence It is not always fair to judge by appearances It is not so unreasonable as you think It is often very misleading It is one of the grave problems of the day It is only a fancy of mine It is perfectly defensible It is perfectly trite It is permissible to gratify such an impulse It is possible, but I rather doubt it It is quite an easy matter It is quite conceivable It is quite too absurd It is rather startling It is really impressive It is really most callous of you to laugh It is sheer madness It is sickening and so insufferably arrogant It is simply a coincidence It is the most incomprehensible thing in the world It is to you that I am indebted for all this It is true, I am grieved to say It is true none the less It is very amusing It is very far from being a fiction It is very good of you to do this for my pleasure It is very ingenious It is very splendid of you It is wanton capriciousness It is your privilege to think so It's a difficult and delicate matter to discuss It's a matter of immediate urgency It's absolute folly It's absurd--it's impossible It's all nonsense It's as logical as it can be under the circumstances It's been a strange experience for you It's deliciously honest It's going to be rather troublesome It's inconceivable that it should ever be necessary It's mere pride of opinion It's my chief form of recreation It's not a matter of vast importance It's past my comprehension It's quite wonderful how logical and simple you make it It's really very perplexing It's so charming of you to say that It's so kind of you to come It's such a bore having to talk about it It's the natural sequence It's too melancholy It's very wonderful It makes it all quite interesting It may sound strange to you It must be a trifle dull at times It must be fascinating It must be very gratifying to you It must have been rather embarrassing It seems an age since we've last seen you It seems entirely wonderful to me It seems incredible It seems like a distracting dream It seems preposterous It seems the height of absurdity It seems to me that you have a perfect right to do so It seems unspeakably funny to me It seems very ridiculous It shall be as you wish It should not be objectionable It sounds plausible It sounds profoundly interesting It sounds rather appalling It sounds very alluring It strikes me as rather pathetic It was an unpardonable liberty It was inevitable that you should say that It was most stupid of me to have forgotten it It was not unkindly meant It was peculiarly unfortunate It was really an extraordinary experience It was so incredible It was the most amazing thing I ever heard It was very good of you to come out and join us It will create a considerable sensation It will divert your thoughts from a mournful subject It will give me pleasure to do it It will not alter my determination It would be ill-advised It would interest me very much It would seem to be a wise decision It would take too long to formulate my thought J Join us, please, when you have time Just trust to the inspiration of the moment Justify it if you can L Let me persuade you Let me say how deeply indebted I feel for your kindness Let me speak frankly Let us grant that for the sake of the argument Let us take a concrete instance M Many thanks--how kind and good you are! May I ask to whom you allude? May I be privileged to hear it? May I speak freely? May I venture to ask what inference you would draw from that? Might I suggest an alternative? Most dangerous! My attitude would be one of disapproval My confidence in you is absolute My idea of it is quite the reverse My information is rather scanty My meaning is quite the contrary My point of view is different, but I shall not insist upon it My views are altered in many respects N No, I am speaking seriously No, I don't understand it Not at all Not to my knowledge Nothing could be more delightful Now is it very plain to you? Now you are flippant O Obviously the matter is settled Of course, but that again isn't the point Of course I am delighted Of course I don't want to press you against your will Of course you will do what you think best Oh, certainly, if you wish it Oh, do not form an erroneous impression Oh, I appreciate that in you! Oh, that's mere quibbling Oh, that's splendid of you! Oh, that was a manner of speaking Oh, yes, I quite admit that Oh, yes, you may take that for granted Oh, you are very bitter Oh, you may be as scornful as you like On the contrary, I agree with you thoroughly On the face of it, it sounds reasonable One assumption you make I should like to contest One has no choice to endure it One must be indulgent under the circumstances One thing I beg of you P Pardon me, but I don't think so Pardon me, I meant something different Perhaps I am indiscreet Perhaps not in the strictest sense Perhaps you do not feel at liberty to do so Perhaps you think me ungrateful Personally I confess to an objection Please continue to be frank Please do not think I am asking out of mere curiosity Please forgive my thoughtlessness Please make yourself at home Pray don't apologize Pray forgive me for intruding on you so unceremoniously Pray go on! Precisely, that is just what I meant Put in that way it certainly sounds very well Q Question me, if you wish Quibbling, I call it Quite so Quite the wisest thing you can do R Rather loquacious, I think [loquacious = very talkative] Reading between the lines Really? I should have thought otherwise Really--you must go? Reassure me, if you can Reflect upon the possible consequences Relatively speaking Reluctantly I admit it Reverting to another matter S Shall we have a compact? She has an extraordinary gift of conversation She is easily prejudiced She seems uncommonly appreciative She will be immensely surprised Show me that the two cases are analogous So far so good So I inferred So much the better for me So you observe the transformation? Something amuses you Sometimes the absurdity of it occurs to me Speaking with all due respect Still, you might make an exception Strangely it's true Such conduct seems to me unjustifiable Surely there can be no question about that Surely we can speak frankly Surely you sound too harsh a note Surely you would not countenance that T Tell me in what way you want me to help you Thank you for telling me that Thank you for your good intentions That, at least, you will agree to That depends on one's point of view That doesn't sound very logical That is a counsel of perfection That is a fair question, perhaps That is a question I have often proposed to myself That is a stroke of good fortune That is a superb piece of work That is a very practical explanation That is admirably clear That is certainly ideal That is eminently proper That is hardly consistent That is inconceivable That is just like you, if you will forgive me for saying so That is most fortunate That is most kind of you That is most unexpected and distressing That is not fair--to me That is not to be lightly spoken of That is precisely what I mean That is quite true, theoretically That is rather a difficult question to answer That is rather a strange request to make That is rather awkward That is really good of you That is the prevailing idea That is tragic That is true and I think you are right That is very amiable in you That is very curious That is very felicitous That is very gracious That is what I call intelligent criticism That is what I meant to tell you That is a humiliating thought That is a most interesting idea That is such a hideous idea That is the most incredible part of it That might involve you in life-long self-reproach That must be exceedingly tiresome That ought to make you a little lenient That reassures me That shows the infirmity of his judgment That theory isn't tenable That was exceedingly generous That was intended ironically That was very thoughtful of you That was very well reasoned That will blast your chances, I am afraid That will suit me excellently That would be somewhat serious That would be very discreditable The agreement seems to be ideal The idea is monstrous The inference is obvious The notion is rather new to me The pleasure is certainly not all on your side The reason is not so far to seek The same problem has perplexed me The sentiment is worthy of you The simplest thing in the world The situation is uncommonly delicate The story seems to me incredible The subject is extremely interesting The tone of it was certainly hostile The very obvious moral is this The whole thing is an idle fancy Then I have your permission? Then you're really not disinclined? Then you merely want to ask my advice? There are endless difficulties There are reasons which make such a course impossible There is a good deal of sense in that There is a grain of truth in that, I admit There is food for reflection in that There is my hand on it There is no resisting you There is nothing I should like so much There is one inevitable condition There is something almost terrifying about it There must be extenuating circumstances They amuse me immensely This is a most unexpected pleasure This is charmingly new to me This is indeed good fortune This is really appalling This is really not a laughing matter Those are my own private feelings Those things are not forgotten at once To me it's simply outrageous To speak frankly, I do not like it True, I forgot! U Undeniably true Unfortunately I must decline the proposal Unlikely to be so Unquestionably superior Unwholesome influence, I would say V Very good, I'll do so Very well, I will consent Vivacity is her greatest charm Virtually accomplished, I believe Vouch for its truth W We are all more or less susceptible We are drifting away from our point We are impervious to certain rules We are merely wasting energy in this duel We can safely take it for granted We couldn't have a better topic We had better agree to differ We have had some conclusions in common We must judge it leniently We must not expose ourselves to misinterpretation We owe you a debt of gratitude We shall be glad to see you, if you care to come We will devoutly hope not Well, as a matter of fact, I have forgotten Well done! I congratulate you Well, I'm not going to argue that Well, I call it scandalous Well, I confess they don't appeal to me Well, more's the pity Well, perhaps it is none of my affair Well, that is certainly ideal! Well, this is good fortune Well, yes--in a way Well, you are a dreamer! What a beautiful idea What a charming place you have here What a curious coincidence! What a pretty compliment! What a tempting prospect! What an extraordinary idea! What are your misgivings? What can you possibly mean? What conceivable reason is there for it? What do you imagine my course should be? What do you propose? What is the next step in your argument? What is there so strange about that? What, may I ask, is your immediate object? What unseemly levity on his part What very kind things you say to me What would you expect me to do? What you have just said is even truer than you realize What you propose is utterly impossible Who is your sagacious adviser? [sagacious = sound judgment, wise] Why ask such embarrassing questions? Why did you desert us so entirely? Why do you take it so seriously? Will you allow me to ask you a question? Will you be more explicit? Will you have the kindness to explain? Will you pardon my curiosity? Will you permit me a brief explanation? Would you apply that to everyone? Would you mind telling me your opinion? Y Yes and no Yes, but that is just what I fail to comprehend Yes, I dare say Yes, if you will be so good Yes, it was extraordinarily fine Yes, that is my earnest wish Yes, that's undeniable Yes? You were saying? You agree with me, I know You are a profound philosopher You are a severe critic You are delightfully frank You are greatly to be envied You are heartily welcome You are incomprehensible You are incorrigible You are kind and comforting You are most kind You are not consistent You are not serious, I hope You are not seriously displeased with me? You are quite delightful You are rather puzzling to-day You are right to remind me of that You are unduly distressing yourself You are very complimentary You are very gracious You're so tremendously kind about it You're succeeding admirably You're taking it all much too seriously You're talking nonsense! You're very good, I'm sure You ask me--but I shouldn't wonder if you knew better than I do You astonish me greatly You behaved with great forbearance You can hardly be serious You cannot regret it more than I do You could not pay me a higher compliment You did it excellently You did not clearly understand what I meant You don't seem very enthusiastic You excite my curiosity You flatter my judgment You have a genius for saying the right thing You have asked me a riddle You have asked the impossible You have been wrongly informed You have done me a great service You have had a pleasant time, I hope You have my deepest sympathy You have my unbounded confidence You have received a false impression You have such an interesting way of putting things You interest me deeply You judge yourself too severely You know I'm in an agony of curiosity You know I'm not given to sentimentality You know the familiar axiom You leave no alternative You look incredulous You may be sure of my confidence You may rely on me absolutely You might make an exception You must have misunderstood me You must not fail to command me You overwhelm me with your kindness You really insist upon it? You rebuke me very fairly You say that as though you were surprised You see how widely we differ You see, it's all very vague You see things rose-colored You seem to be in a happy mood You seem to take a very mild interest in what I propose You shock me more than I can say You speak in enigmas You speak with authority You surely understand my position You take a great deal for granted You take a pessimistic view of things You take me quite by surprise You will admit I have some provocation You will become morbid if you are not careful You will have ample opportunity You will, of course, remember the incident You will please not be flippant You will understand my anxiety Your argument is facile and superficial Your consideration is entirely misplaced Your judgments are very sound Your logic is as clever as possible Your opinion will be invaluable to me Your request is granted before it is made Your statement is somewhat startling SECTION X PUBLIC SPEAKING PHRASES A A fact of vast moment A few words will suffice to answer A further objection is A great many people have said A little indulgence may be due to those A majority of us believe A man in my situation has A more plausible objection is found A proof of this is A servile mind can never know A short time since A specific answer can be given A thought occurred to me Able men have reasoned out Above all things, let us not forget Absolutely true it is Abundant reason is there Accordingly by reason of this circumstance Add this instance to After a careful study of all the evidence After full deliberation After reminding the hearer After this it remains only to say Again, can we doubt Again, I ask the gentleman Again, in this view Again, it is quite clear that Again, it is urged Again, let us compare Again, very numerous are the cases Again, we have abundant instances Against all this concurring testimony All confess this to be true All I ask is All of us know All that I will say now All the facts which support this All the signs of the time indicate All these things you know All this being considered All this is historical fact All this is very well All this suggests All this we take for granted Allow me for a moment to turn to Allow me to tell a story Altho I say it to myself Amazing as it may seem Am I mistaken in this Among many examples Among the distinguished guests who honor Among the problems that confront us An answer to this is now ready An argument has often been put forward An example or two will illustrate An indescribably touching incident An opinion has now become established And again, it is said And again, it is to be presumed And coming nearer to our own day And did a man try to persuade me And do you really think And everybody here knows And for myself, as I said And further, all that I have said And hence the well-known doctrine And here again, when I speak And here allow me to call your attention And here I am led to observe And here I come to the closing evidence And here I have an opportunity And here I reproach And here I wish you to observe And here let me define my position And here let me give my explanation And here let us recall to mind And how is it possible to imagine And I am bound to say And I beg of you And I call on you And I might say this And I refuse assent And I rejoice to know And I say, it were better for you And I should in like manner repudiate And I speak with reverence And I submit to you And I trust that you will consider And I will make a practical suggestion And I will tell you why And I would, moreover submit And if a man could anywhere be found And if any of you should question And if I know anything of my countrymen And if I may presume to speak And if I take another instance And if this be true And if you come to a decision And if you think it your duty And in conclusion And in like manner And in order to see this And in thus speaking, I am not denying And is not this lamentable And is there not a presumption And it happens And it is certainly true And it is doubtful if And it is not difficult to see And it is not plain And it is one of the evidences And it is precisely in this And it is strikingly suggested to us And it is undeniable, I say And it is well that this should be so And last of all And lest anyone should marvel And let it be observed And lo! and behold And more than this And next I would ask And now allow me to call attention And now behold a mystery And now consider And now having discussed And now I beg that I may be permitted And now I go back to the statement And now I have completed my review And now I have said enough to explain And now I must touch upon one point And now if I may take for granted And now it would be very pleasant for me And now observe how And now, sir, what I had first to say And now supposing this point to be settled And now that I have mentioned And now the chief points of it And now the question is asked me And now, to close, let me give you And now, to what purpose do I mention And, of course, you are aware And of this I am perfectly certain And quite as difficult is it to create And right here lies the cause And, sir, a word And so, again, as regard And so I am reminded of a story And so I leave these words with you And so I may point out And so I might recount to you And so, in the other cases, I have named And so in the present case And so on And so through all phases And so, upon every hand And sometimes it will be difficult And that gave another distorted view And the reason is very obvious And the same holds good And then again And then hastily to conclude And then I may be reminded And then there is another thought And then when it is said And there are reasons why And there is also this view And therefore am I truly glad And therefore it is not unfrequently quoted And therefore it is not without regret And this brings me to the last thing And this is really the sense And this leads me to say a word And thus consistently And thus it is conceivable And thus it seems to me And thus we are led on then to further question And to all this must be added And to return to the topic And to this conclusion you must come And unquestionably And we are brought to the same conclusion And what do you suppose will be And when I have shown to you And when I recall that event And when we pass beyond the bounds of And where, let me ask And why should I insist And will you still insist And with these thoughts come others And yet I can not but reflect And yet I feel justified in believing And yet I think we all feel And yet let me say to you And yet one more quotation And yet this notion is, I conceive And yet though this be true And yet we ought, if we are wise And you may also remember this Another circumstance that adds to the difficulty Another consideration which I shall adduce [adduce = cite as an example] Another instance of signal success Another of these presumptions Another point is made as clear as crystal Another reason of a kindred nature Another reflection which occurs to me Another sign of our times Another signal advantage Another striking instance Answers doubtless may be given Are there not many of us Are we content to believe Are we forever to deprive ourselves Are we not startled into astonishment Are we satisfied to assume As a general rule I hold As a last illustration As a matter of fact As a proof of this As an illustration of this truth As briefly as I may As far as my limits allow As far as this is true As far as this objection relates As far as we know As for the rest As I have now replied to As I look around on this assembly As I rise to respond to the sentiment As I understand this matter As memory scans the past As society is now constituted As some one has well said As the foregoing instances have shown As to the particular instance before us As well might we compare As we shall see in a few moments Assuredly it is this At the outset of this inquiry At the risk of digression At the same time, I candidly state At the utmost we can say At this juncture At this solemn moment Away then with the notion B Be assured, then Be confident, therefore Be it so Be not deceived Be sure that in spite of Be these things as they may Be your interests what they may be Bear with me for a few moments Bearing on this point Before attempting to answer this question Before going further Before I close I will particularly remark Before I come to the special matter Before I proceed to compare Being fully of the opinion Being persuaded then Believing, as I do Beyond all question we Bidden by your invitation to a discussion Broadly speaking But, above all things, let us But after all, I think no one can say But again, when we carefully consider But am I wrong in saying But apart from the fact But besides these special facts But can this question But depend upon it But despite all this But do not let us depend But do you imagine But doubts here arise But even admitting these possibilities But everyone who deserves But first of all, remark, I beg you But, further, I shall now demonstrate But, gentlemen, I must be done But grave problems confront us But here I am discussing But here let me say But how can we pass over But how shall I describe my emotions But however that may be But I am bound to say But I am certain from my own experience But I am very sorry to say But I am willing enough to admit But I can at least say But I can not conceive But I can promise But I cherish the hope But I confess that I should be glad But I digress But I do not propose all these things But I do say this But I have been insisting simply But I have heard it argued But I have no fear of the future But I leave this train of thought But I may be permitted to speak But I may say in conclusion But I need hardly assert But I pass that over But I propose to speak to you But I repeat But I resist the temptation But I return to the question But I shall go still further But I simply ask But I submit the whole subject But I trust that you will all admit But I venture to assure you But I will allude But I will not further impress any idea But I would earnestly impress upon you But if I may even flatter myself But if I seek for illustrations But if you want more evidence But if you wish to know But in making this assertion But in my opinion there is no need But in the course of time But is it quite possible to hold But is this any reason why But it does not follow from this But it happens very fortunately But it has been suggested to me But it is a fact But it is impossible for one But it is necessary to explain But it is no use protesting But it is not fair to assert But it is not my intention But it is not necessary to suppose But it is not possible to believe But it is not really so But it is otherwise with But it is sometimes said But it may be doubted whether But it may happen that I forgot But it will be a misfortune But it will naturally be asked But it will perhaps be argued But it would be vain to attempt But let me ask you to glance But let me before closing refer But let none of you think But let us also keep ever in mind But let us look a little further But lo! all of a sudden But mark this But more than all things else But my allotted time is running away But my answer to this objection But, my friends, pause for a moment But never was a grosser wrong But not for one moment But notwithstanding all this But now look at the effect But now take notice of But on the other hand But on what ground are we But passing these by But perhaps I ought to speak distinctly But perhaps you are not yet weary But putting these questions aside But quite contrary to this, you will find But recollect, I pray you, how But, sir, it is manifest But some other things are to be noted But some will ask me But sooner or later But still, I repeat But suppose the fact But surely, you can not say But that I may not divert you from But that is not all But that must be always the impression But the fact is But the final value But the greatest proof of all But the most formidable problem But the necessity of the case But the question may arise But, then, let us ask ourselves But there is another duty imposed But there is much more than this But this I do not hesitate to say But this I fearlessly affirm But this I know But this is a circuitous argument But this is no place for controversy But this is not all But this is what I mean But this much I affirm as true But this warns me But this we may put aside But to go still further But to say the truth But we are met with the assertion But we are to recollect But we ask, perhaps But we may depend upon it But we think it is not wise But we want something more for explanation But what a blunder would be yours But what is the fact But what we must needs guard against But when it is declared But when we look a little deeper But while it may be admitted But who has not seen But why do I numerate these details But with these exceptions But yet nothing can be more splendid But you should know By no means By the way, I have not mentioned By this time it will be suspected C Can it be supposed Can the long records of humanity teach us Can there be a better illustration Can we pretend Can you lightly contemplate Can you yield yourselves Cautious and practical thinkers ask Certain it is Certainly I am not blind to the faults Certainly, one can conceive Clearly enough Coming back to the main subject Coming down to modern times Coming to present circumstances Common sense indicates Consequently, I am not discussing this matter Consider, I beg you, what Contemplating these marvelous changes D Delude not yourselves with the belief Depend upon it Did it ever occur to you Difficult then as the question may be Do I need to describe Do me the honor of believing Do not imagine Do not let us conceal from ourselves Do not suppose for a moment Do not talk to me of Do not think me guilty of Do we not know Do what you will Do you ask how that can be Do you believe this can be truthfully said Do you not know I am speaking of Do you remember a concrete instance Do you think, then Does any man say Does it ever occur to you Does it not seem something like idiocy to Does it not shock you to think Does not the event show Does not the nature of every man revolt Doubtless the end is sought E Every now and then you will find Every one has asked himself Every one therefore ought to look to Every reader of history can recall F Far from it Few indeed there are Few subjects are more fruitful Few things impress the imagination more Finally, it is my most fervent prayer First in my thoughts are First of all I ask For, be assured of this For behold For I must tell you For if any one thinks that there is For, in truth, if you please to recollect For instance, I can fancy For is it not true For it is not right to For let it be observed first For mark you For my own part, I believe For myself, certainly I think For observe what the real fact is For one I deny For, perhaps, after all For, perhaps, some one may say For so it generally happens For the sake of my argument For this is what I say For this reason, indeed, it is For we all know Fortunately for us Fortunately I am not obliged From one point of view we are From the circumstances already explained From the standpoint of From this statement you will perceive G Generally speaking God be praised Grant this true Granting all this H Had I time for all that might be said Had my limits allowed it Happily for us Hardly less marvelous Hardly will anyone venture to say Have I exaggerated Have you ever noticed Having taken a view of Having thus described what appears to me He is the best prophet who He seems at times to confuse He was an eminent instance of He who is insensible to Hence arises a grave mischief Hence, as I have said Hence it follows Here again the testimony corroborates Here arises the eternal question Here comes the practical matter Here for a moment I seem Here, however, it may be objected Here I am considering Here I end my illustrations Here I must pause for a moment Here I only insist upon Here I ought to stop Here is another strange thing Here is good hope for us Here is no question Here let me meet one other question Here, then, I am brought to the consideration Here then I take up the subject Here then is the key Here, then, it is natural at last Here then, we are brought to the question Here, then, we are involved Here undoubtedly it is Here we can not but pause to contemplate Here we come into direct antagonism with Here we come to the very crux of Here we have it on high authority History is replete with predictions Hitherto I have spoken only of Holding this view, I am concerned How can we help believing How do you account for How does it happen How human language staggers when How infinitely difficult it is How infinitely superior must it appear How is this to be explained How many a time How momentous, then How much better, I say, if How much more rational it would be How shall I attempt to enumerate How shall I describe to you However, I am viewing the matter However, I will not in any way admit However, it is to me a very refreshing thing I I abide by my statement I add a few suggestions I adduce these facts [adduce = cite as an example] I admire the main drift of I admit, of course, at once I admit the extreme complexity I again ask I allude to I always delight to think I always will assert the right to I am a great admirer I am a little at a loss to know I am about to supplement I am agitated by conflicting emotions I am alarmed, indeed, when I see I am also bound to say I am also satisfied I am apprehensive I am asked to-night to propose I am assured and fully believe I am at a loss for adequate terms I am bold to say I am but saying I am by no means certain I am certain that you will give me credit I am certainly in earnest sympathy I am confronted by the hope I am conscious of the fact I am convinced by what I have seen I am deeply imbued with the conviction I am deeply insensible of the compliment I am determined I am even bold enough to hazard I am exceeding my necessary limits I am exceedingly glad of this opportunity I am extremely obliged to you I am familiar with I am far from asserting I am filled with admiration I am firmly convinced I am free to admit I am fully convinced I am giving voice to what you all feel I am glad of this public opportunity I am glad to answer to the toast I am glad to express the belief I am glad to notice I am going to spare you and myself I am grateful to you for this honor I am greatly alarmed I am greatly indebted to you I am happy to be with you I am here by the favor of your invitation I am here the advocate of I am here to introduce I am in favor of I am in sympathy with I am inclined sometimes to believe I am inclined to suspect I am indebted for the honor I am, indeed, most solicitous I am informed I am led on by these reflections I am led to believe I am mainly concerned I am most deeply sensible of the welcome I am most grateful for the opportunity I am myself greatly indebted I am nevertheless too sensible I am not a stranger to I am not at liberty to discuss I am not at present concerned I am not about to defend I am not advocating I am not altogether clear I am not aware of a single instance I am not blind to the faults of I am not bold enough to I am not catching at sharp arguments I am not concerned to argue I am not defending myself I am not dreaming of denying I am not going into vexed questions I am not going to reproach I am not here to defend I am not insensible I am not of those who pretend I am not prepared to dispute the word I am not presumptuous to assert I am not proposing to set forth I am not ripe to pass sentence I am not so unreasonable as to tell you I am not surprised I am not taking into account I am not unaware I am not undertaking to deliver I am now going to attempt I am obliged to add I am obliged to go still further I am often reminded I am old enough to remember I am one of those who believe I am only too sensible of the fact I am perfectly willing to admit I am persuaded I am prepared to back that opinion by I am privileged to speak to I am quite conscious that I am rather disposed to think I am ready to do battle I am reassured by the presence here I am reluctantly but forcibly reminded I am resolved not to permit I am sensible, sir I am simply endeavoring to show I am so surrounded on every hand I am sometimes inclined to think I am somewhat relieved to know I am sorry to say I am suggesting the reason why I am sure, at any rate I am sure every impartial man will agree I am sure I feel no hostility I am sure that I echo the sentiment I am sure this generous audience will pardon me I am sure you all hope I am sure you feel the truth I am sure you will acquit me I am sure you will be kind enough I am sure you will do me the justice I am sure you will not be surprised I am surely not here to assert I am tempted further to offer to you I am thankful for the privilege I am thoroughly convinced I am to speak to you this evening I am to urge the interest of I am told occasionally I am told on authority I am too well aware of the difficulties I am totally at a loss to conceive I am trespassing too long on your time I am unable to understand I am unconscious of intentional error I am under a very great obligation I am under the deepest feeling of gratitude I am under the impression I am unwillingly bound to add I am uttering no paradox when I say I am very far from thinking....

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