Quotable quotes

Some thoughts from the OED and its files on...

...some perks of the job...
1565-6 in N. Carlisle Endowed Gram. Sch. II. 759 The said Schoolmaster shall..have use and take the profits of all such cock-fights and potations as are commonly used in Schools.

...those were the days...
1821 Sat. Evening Post 18 Aug. (Advt.), Locks picked at the shortest notice.

...a little-known predecessor to the car...
1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xxviii, He went by upon a mettle horse.

...telling it as it is...
1985 Eng. Today July 5/3 Letting them access experiential dynamics of interaction in a hands-on learning situation via optimal-maximal utilization of equipment such as electronic table-tennis modules for hand-eye coordination.

...and the '60s new man...
1985 Amer. Speech 60 11 In 1968 [he] had 'advised his girlfriend that she could go to "chick lib" class while he was busy with other things'.