Quotable quotes

Thought-provoking quotations snippets from the OED quotation files:

the speed of a striking snake...
1932 Discovery Nov., Pythons are so sluggish that they have been nibbled to death by striped mice.

...nipping out to the corner shop...
1843 Ladies' Repository Mar., Katrine's present errand..was to procure morphine for her mother.

...musical strains...
1676 T. Mace Musick's Monument, [In making a lute] First bring your Back and Belly together, and see if they will fit.

...and the perils of our work?
1958 J. Cannan And be a Villain, 'I approve of slang,' said Laura. 'It keeps a language alive and kicking. It's these fearsome words like - well, like finalize and motivate that should be barred. They're much more dangerous.'