Though the Jazz Age continued it became less and less an affair of youth. The sequel was like a children’s party taken over by the elders.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American Novelist
One thing I certainly never was made for, and that is to put principles on and off at the dictation of a party, as a lackey changes his livery at his master’s command.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
On with the dance! Let joy be unconfined; no sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet to chase the glowing hours with flying feet.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
He knows very little of mankind who expects, by any facts or reasoning, to convince a determined party man.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving; make every day a holiday and celebrate just living.
—Amanda Bradley American Poet
At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
Enjoyed it! One more drink and I’d have been under the host.
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
The Life and Soul, the man who will never go home while there is one man, woman or glass of anything not yet drunk.
—Katharine Whitehorn (1928–2021) English Journalist, Writer, Columnist
Whenever, at a party, I have been in the mood to study fools, I have always looked for a great beauty: they always gather round her like flies around a fruit stall.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
The tendency of party-spirit has ever been to disguise, and propagate, and support error.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
Cocktail party: A gathering held to enable forty people to talk about themselves at the same time. The man who remains after the liquor is gone is the host.
—Fred Allen (1894–1956) American Humorist, Radio Personality
Of all kinds of credulity, the most obstinate is that of party-spirit; of men, who, being numbered, they know not why, in any party, resign the use of their own eyes and ears, and resolve to believe nothing that does not favor those whom they profess to follow.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Party is the madness of many, for the gain of a few.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
—Nancie J. Carmody
The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
Nothing can be proposed so wild or so absurd as not to find a party, and often a very large party to espouse it.
—Richard Cecil
Such is the turbulence of human passions in party disputes, when victory more than truth is contended for, that the post of honor is a private station.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
He that aspires to be the head of a party will find it more difficult to please his friends than to perplex his foes. He must often act from false reasons which are weak, because he dares not avow the true reasons which are strong.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Memorial services are the cocktail parties of the geriatric set.
—Harold Macmillan (1894–1986) British Head of State
There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This, within certain limits, is probably true. But in governments of a popular character, and purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent it bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!”
—Robin Williams (b.1951) American Actor, Comedian
A party of one alone is not a party.
—French Proverb
Like other parties of the kind, it was first silent, then talky, then argumentative, then disputatious, then unintelligible, then altogether, then inarticulate, and then drunk. When we had reached the last step of this glorious ladder, it was difficult to get down again without stumbling.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
A party of two is that of God; of three of the king; of four is of the devil.
—French Proverb
Men naturally sympathize with the calamities of individuals; but they are inclined to look on a fallen party with contempt rather than with pity.
—Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay (1800–59) English Historian, Essayist, Philanthropist
The political parties that I would call great, are those which cling more to principles than to consequences; to general, and not to special cases; to ideas, and not to men.—Such parties are usually distinguished by a nobler character, more generous passions, more genuine convictions, and a more bold and open conduct than others.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
People who declare that they belong to no party certainly do not belong to ours.
—Jean Antoine Petit-Senn (1792–1870) French-Swiss Lyric Poet
If we mean to support the liberty and independence which have cost us so much blood and treasure to establish, we must drive far away the demon of party spirit and local reproach.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
At every party there are two kinds of people—those who want to go home and those who don’t. The trouble is, they are usually married to each other.
—Ask Ann Landers (1918–2002) American Advice Columnist
Drink, and dance and laugh and lie, love the reeling midnight through, for tomorrow we shall die! (But, alas, we never do.)
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
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