Ozma of Oz quotes
The lines readers remember from Ozma of Oz, by L. Frank Baum.
31 quotes · About the book
Standout lines
Then the wind pushed the edges of the ripples until they became waves, and shoved the waves around until they became billows.
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The wind blew hard and joggled the water of the ocean, sending ripples across its surface.
Then the wind pushed the edges of the ripples until they became waves, and shoved the waves around until they became billows.
The billows rolled dreadfully high: higher even than the tops of houses. Some of them, indeed, rolled as high as the tops of tall trees, and seemed like mountains, and the gulfs between the great billows were like deep valleys.
I never feel like having my morning cackle till the egg is properly laid, and without the chance to cackle I would not be happy.
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“It’s a habit I have,” replied the yellow hen. “It has always been my pride to lay a fresh egg every morning, except when I’m moulting.
I never feel like having my morning cackle till the egg is properly laid, and without the chance to cackle I would not be happy.
”
There is nothing in the world so miserable as a wet hen.
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“So shall I,” answered her companion. “
There is nothing in the world so miserable as a wet hen.
”
Live things are much fresher and more wholesome than dead ones, and you humans eat all sorts of dead creatures.
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“Goodness me!” returned the hen, in a puzzled tone; “how queer you are, Dorothy!
Live things are much fresher and more wholesome than dead ones, and you humans eat all sorts of dead creatures.
”
But when one is hungry one can eat even supper in the morning, and not complain.
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“A lunch isn’t ’zactly breakfast,” she said to Billina, who sat beside her curiously watching. “
But when one is hungry one can eat even supper in the morning, and not complain.
”
The foolish man would insist upon milking the red cow when I wanted him to milk the white one; but he will know better next time, I am sure.
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“He is in the house, nursing a black eye,” replied Jinjur, calmly. “
The foolish man would insist upon milking the red cow when I wanted him to milk the white one; but he will know better next time, I am sure.
”
All quotes
Jump to a chapter
- I: The Girl in the Chicken-Coop
- II: The Yellow Hen
- III: Letters in the Sand
- IV: Tik-Tok the Machine Man
- V: Dorothy Opens the Dinner-Pail
- VI: The Heads of Langwidere
- VII: Ozma of Oz to the Rescue
- VIII: The Hungry Tiger
- IX: The Royal Family of Ev
- X: The Giant with the Hammer
- XI: The Nome King
- XII: The Eleven Guesses
- XIII: The Nome King Laughs
- XV: Billina Frightens the Nome King
- XVI: Purple, Green, and Gold
- XVII: The Scarecrow Wins the Fight
- XX: The Emerald City
I: The Girl in the Chicken-Coop
Then the wind pushed the edges of the ripples until they became waves, and shoved the waves around until they became billows.
Show the passage
The wind blew hard and joggled the water of the ocean, sending ripples across its surface.
Then the wind pushed the edges of the ripples until they became waves, and shoved the waves around until they became billows.
The billows rolled dreadfully high: higher even than the tops of houses. Some of them, indeed, rolled as high as the tops of tall trees, and seemed like mountains, and the gulfs between the great billows were like deep valleys.
II: The Yellow Hen
I never feel like having my morning cackle till the egg is properly laid, and without the chance to cackle I would not be happy.
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“It’s a habit I have,” replied the yellow hen. “It has always been my pride to lay a fresh egg every morning, except when I’m moulting.
I never feel like having my morning cackle till the egg is properly laid, and without the chance to cackle I would not be happy.
”
There is nothing in the world so miserable as a wet hen.
Show the passage
“So shall I,” answered her companion. “
There is nothing in the world so miserable as a wet hen.
”
Live things are much fresher and more wholesome than dead ones, and you humans eat all sorts of dead creatures.
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“Goodness me!” returned the hen, in a puzzled tone; “how queer you are, Dorothy!
Live things are much fresher and more wholesome than dead ones, and you humans eat all sorts of dead creatures.
”
But you eat the chickens that eat the bugs,
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“
But you eat the chickens that eat the bugs,
” retorted the yellow hen, with an odd cackle. “So you are just as bad as we chickens are.”
III: Letters in the Sand
But when one is hungry one can eat even supper in the morning, and not complain.
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“A lunch isn’t ’zactly breakfast,” she said to Billina, who sat beside her curiously watching. “
But when one is hungry one can eat even supper in the morning, and not complain.
”
IV: Tik-Tok the Machine Man
When I found my-self im-pris-oned I shout-ed for help un-til my voice ran down; and then I walked back and forth in this lit-tle room un-til my ac-tion ran down; and then I stood still and thought un-til my thoughts ran down.
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“It is, in-deed,” said the machine. “
When I found my-self im-pris-oned I shout-ed for help un-til my voice ran down; and then I walked back and forth in this lit-tle room un-til my ac-tion ran down; and then I stood still and thought un-til my thoughts ran down.
Af-ter that I re-mem-ber noth-ing un-til you wound me up a-gain.”
V: Dorothy Opens the Dinner-Pail
That’s ’cause you’re so ign’rant,
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“
That’s ’cause you’re so ign’rant,
” replied the girl, who was a little offended at her friend Billina’s speech.
VI: The Heads of Langwidere
I can on-ly do what I am wound up to do.
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“I am on-ly a ma-chine,” said Tik-Tok. “I can-not be kind an-y more than I can be sor-ry or glad.
I can on-ly do what I am wound up to do.
”
I’m not used to taking cast-off things, so I’ll just keep my own head.
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“I don’t know anything about your No. 26, and I don’t want to,” said Dorothy, firmly. “
I’m not used to taking cast-off things, so I’ll just keep my own head.
”
VII: Ozma of Oz to the Rescue
She seems a little nervous,
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“
She seems a little nervous,
” replied the Tin Woodman.
I won’t fool with your interior at all. For I am a poor mechanic, and might mix you up.
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“In that case,” the Scarecrow kindly promised, “
I won’t fool with your interior at all. For I am a poor mechanic, and might mix you up.
”
VIII: The Hungry Tiger
No; hungry I was born, and hungry I shall die.
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Don’t they sound delicious? But I’ve never eaten any, because my conscience tells me it is wrong. If I had no conscience I would probably eat the babies and then get hungry again, which would mean that I had sacrificed the poor babies for nothing.
No; hungry I was born, and hungry I shall die.
But I’ll not have any cruel deeds on my conscience to be sorry for.”
I am a good beast, perhaps, but a disgracefully bad tiger.
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“In that you are mistaken,” was the reply. “
I am a good beast, perhaps, but a disgracefully bad tiger.
For it is the nature of tigers to be cruel and ferocious, and in refusing to eat harmless living creatures I am acting as no good tiger has ever before acted. That is why I left the forest and joined my friend the Cowardly Lion.”
I was raised in the United States, and I won’t allow any one-horse chicken of the Land of Ev to run over me and put on airs, as long as I can lift a claw in self-defense.
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“I didn’t ask to associate with them,” replied Billina. “It is that cross old Princess who is to blame. But
I was raised in the United States, and I won’t allow any one-horse chicken of the Land of Ev to run over me and put on airs, as long as I can lift a claw in self-defense.
”
I’d like to promote the private, for I believe no private should ever be in public life
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“They are, all except one,” answered the Tin Woodman. “I have in my Army eight Generals, six Colonels, seven Majors and five Captains, besides one private for them to command.
I’d like to promote the private, for I believe no private should ever be in public life
; and I’ve also noticed that officers usually fight better and are more reliable than common soldiers. Besides, the officers are more important looking, and lend dignity to our army.”
IX: The Royal Family of Ev
Some day, when I meet a dentist with a pair of forceps, I’m going to have it pulled.
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“It seems to fill my whole body, from the end of my throat to the tip of my tail. I am very sure the appetite doesn’t fit me, and is too large for the size of my body.
Some day, when I meet a dentist with a pair of forceps, I’m going to have it pulled.
”
A creature like me has no business to live, as we all know. But it was the magic powder that did it, so I cannot justly be blamed.
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“I quite agree with you,” replied the Sawhorse, in a rough but not unpleasant voice. “
A creature like me has no business to live, as we all know. But it was the magic powder that did it, so I cannot justly be blamed.
”
It would be foolish to waste intelligence on a common Sawhorse, when so many professors need it.
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“Not very,” said the creature. “
It would be foolish to waste intelligence on a common Sawhorse, when so many professors need it.
But I know enough to obey my masters, and to gid-dup, or whoa, when I’m told to. So I’m pretty well satisfied.”
X: The Giant with the Hammer
If she hurries she may lay scrambled eggs.
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“No, no!” exclaimed the Scarecrow. “
If she hurries she may lay scrambled eggs.
”
XI: The Nome King
I’m only a little girl from Kansas, and we’ve got more dignity at home than we know what to do with.
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“I’m not afraid to plead with him,” said Dorothy. “
I’m only a little girl from Kansas, and we’ve got more dignity at home than we know what to do with.
I’ll call the Nome King.”
The Nome King laughed until he choked; and he choked until he coughed; and he coughed until his face turned from grayish-brown to bright red.
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“Then,” said Ozma, firmly, “I am here with my friends and my army to conquer your kingdom and oblige you to obey my wishes.”
The Nome King laughed until he choked; and he choked until he coughed; and he coughed until his face turned from grayish-brown to bright red.
And then he wiped his eyes with a rock-colored handkerchief and grew grave again.
XII: The Eleven Guesses
I’d look nice as a piece of bric-a-brac, wouldn’t I?
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“What if we fail?” enquired the Scarecrow. “
I’d look nice as a piece of bric-a-brac, wouldn’t I?
”
XIII: The Nome King Laughs
I’d like to, of course; but I just simply won’t.
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“I won’t,” said the general. “
I’d like to, of course; but I just simply won’t.
”
I’ll prob’ly get lots of rest tomorrow, when I become an orn’ment,
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“
I’ll prob’ly get lots of rest tomorrow, when I become an orn’ment,
” said Dorothy, sleepily. But she lay down upon her couch, nevertheless, and in spite of all her worries was soon in the land of dreams.
XV: Billina Frightens the Nome King
I may not be human, but I’m no fool, if I am a chicken.
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“Don’t worry, my dear,” cried Billina, with a cluck that was meant for a laugh. “
I may not be human, but I’m no fool, if I am a chicken.
”
Hens are bothersome enough at their best, but when they can talk they’re simply dreadful.
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“I hope I’ve seen the last of that bird,” declared the monarch, seating himself again in his throne and mopping the perspiration from his forehead with his rock-colored handkerchief. “
Hens are bothersome enough at their best, but when they can talk they’re simply dreadful.
”
XVI: Purple, Green, and Gold
You’re looking quite well, considering your age.
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“Good morning, ma’am,” said Billina, in her sharp voice. “
You’re looking quite well, considering your age.
”
His laugh is worse than another man’s frown,
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“
His laugh is worse than another man’s frown,
” said the private, with a shudder.
XVII: The Scarecrow Wins the Fight
Soldiers should not have heart disease
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“
Soldiers should not have heart disease
,” said Ozma.
XX: The Emerald City
The foolish man would insist upon milking the red cow when I wanted him to milk the white one; but he will know better next time, I am sure.
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“He is in the house, nursing a black eye,” replied Jinjur, calmly. “
The foolish man would insist upon milking the red cow when I wanted him to milk the white one; but he will know better next time, I am sure.
”
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