Metaphors Be With You: An A to Z Dictionary of History's Greatest Metaphorical Quotations

by Mardy Grothe

"An idea is a feat of association, and the height of it is a good metaphor."  — Robert Frost For 3,000 years, great thinkers and writers have relied on the device of metaphor to articulate profound thoughts, give voice to powerful emotions, and creatively explain complex ideas.  But metaphorical language is not the sole province of poets, philosophers, and playwrights.  If you’ve ever tried to describe a broken heart, a thankless child, or a glorious triumph, you know how valuable—and compelling—the perfect metaphor can be.  In Metaphors Be With You , respected quotation anthologist Dr. Mardy Grothe has created the definitive collection of history’s greatest metaphorical quotations.  While crafting his lists of “The Ten Best Things Ever Said” on 250 topics of deep human interest, Dr. Mardy examined more than five million metaphorical observations from literature, politics, philosophy, religion, history, pop culture, and more. Essential for writers, readers, and language aficionados, this remarkable sourcebook breaks new ground by using QR Codes to digitally integrate it with “Dr. Mardy’s Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations” (DMDMQ), the world’s largest online database of metaphorical quotations. The elegant synergy between print and technology provides curious readers with detailed source information for all quotations, innumerable “Error Alerts,” countless quotation backstories, and a wealth of other quotations to further their knowledge and deepen their understanding of favorite quotations. Whether you’re crafting a speech, writing a novel, or simply searching for new ways to express yourself, this meticulously curated compendium is as delightful to read as it is invaluable to own—and sure to inspire with the perfect metaphor every time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Reference, Language, History, Inspirational, Humor

528 pages, Hardcover

Published December 6, 2016

Reviews

[K.T. ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very nice collection of quotes and wise sayings from different people with different walks of life. You are a quote lover? This one is for you :) Here are some of my favorite quotes throughout the book, in case you need some suggestions:

“Never forget that life can only be nobly inspired and rightly lived
if you take it bravely, gallantly, as a splendid adventure."
—ANNIE BESANT

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:
if we did not sometimes taste of adversity,
prosperity would not be so welcome.”
—ANNE BRADSTREET

“There is a loftier ambition than merely to stand high in the world.
It is to stoop down and lift mankind a little higher.
—HENRY VAN DYKE”

“In the case of good books,
the point is not to see how many of them you can get through,
but rather how many can get through to you.
—MORTIMER J. ADLER”

“Where there is no danger, cowards are bold.
—THOMAS PAINE”

-----------------------------
Excerpt From: Dr. Mardy Grothe. “Metaphors Be with You.” HarperCollins, 2016-10-17. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

[Marla · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book to have on hand. I will be keeping this by my computer as a reference book to pull metaphors out to use every once in a while.

I won this book on Bookstr/The Reading Room.

[Kerfe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should have known from the title...

I expected this book to have a longer discussion about words and writing and how it all fits together, but it's really a book of quotations.

but I love quotations! Yet somehow I didn't find that many in this "greatest" compilation that struck a chord. I wrote a few down, it's true, but out of 400 pages? Not very many. Plus, they were presented in an annoying poetic-like form. Unless it's an actual poem, why? Irritating and unnecessary.

Read in bulk, the quotes seemed heavy on trite pithiness, so maybe this is not a good method of looking at quotable ideas for me. On the other hand, more than one seemed particularly relevant in 2017:

"Nothing is more terrible than ignorance in action."--Goethe

"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers."
--Thomas Pynchon

"You do not lead by hitting people over the head--that's assault, not leadership."
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

"The love of money is the root of all evil." --Timothy (Bible)

Mardy has written a series of themed quotation books. You can see them all and find his online metaphor dictionary with many additional quotes at drmardy.com.

[Susan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you loves quotes you will love this book. There are so many people quoted in this book that I was amazed. It is a great read.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of quotes. Not necessarily a great resource for learning about metaphors.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today's post is on Metaphors be with You: An A to Z Dictionary of History's Greatest Metaphorical Quotations by Dr. Marty Grothe. It is 480 pages long and published by Harper Collins. The cover is blue with a light bulb in a speech bubble. The intended reader is someone who likes quotes. There is no foul language, talk of sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.


From the back of the book- Respected quotation anthologist and author of Oxymoronica and Viva la Repartee Dr. Mardy Grothe is at his best in Metaphors Be with You, an A to Z dictionary of 2,750 of history’s greatest metaphorical quotations, meticulously curated for writers, readers, and quotation lovers everywhere.
In Metaphors Be with You, Dr. Mardy Grothe has created the definitive reference on English’s finest metaphors, sourced from literature, politics, philosophy, Hollywood, religion, sports, comedy, history, religion, pop culture, and more. Arranged into two sections—"The Ten Best Things Ever Said" and "The Single Best Thing Ever Said"—Metaphors Be with You includes quotations on five hundred human interest topics and an introduction to the nature, importance, and sheer joy of metaphorical language.
Essential for writers, readers, and language aficionados, this breathtaking, beautifully designed sourcebook also contains elegantly integrated digital access to Dr. Mardy’s Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations, the world’s largest online database of quotations containing metaphors, similes, and analogies. This one-of-a-kind synergy between print and technology offers a comprehensive look at the diversity of words and phrases we use to relate to, understand, and describe our world by providing access to detailed source information, innumerable "Error Alerts," and fascinating quotation backstories that will engage readers as they delve into metaphorical language and discover their own favorites.
Whether you’re crafting a speech, writing a novel, or simply searching for new ways to express yourself, this remarkable compendium is sure to inspire you with the perfect metaphor every time.


Review- I had so much fun with this book. I love books of quotes and there are some wonderful ones in here. There are quotes from everything from ability to kisses. The introduction gives the reader some insight into the how and why of using this book. Grothe really gets into how important metaphors are to our language and why we use them so much. Metaphors are things that we all have in common with our common language and usage.As a writer I will have this book on hand for whenever I get stuck on a word and want to make sure that I can make it mean what I want.


I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I was given this book by Harper Collins exchange for an honest review.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love the written language, this collection of metaphorical quotes is delightful. Some nuggets of gold that I liked:
* Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.
* Gratitude is the memory of the heart.
* No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
* Metaphors have a way of holding the most truth in the least space.
* That money talks I'll not deny, I heard it once, it said goodbye.
* You can live in the past, but there is no future in it.
* What distresses me is to see that human genius has limits and human stupidity none.
* Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows.
* Cut out all those exclamation marks. An exclamation mark is like laughing at your own joke.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I really enjoyed this book. It is full of different, insightful, amusing and inspirational metaphors on many, many subjects. Just pick a page and you will find something to make you think, make you laugh or make you dream. I will keep this book near for when I need a little imagination or motivation.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a labor of love. Grothe has long been a quote collector and has compiled various books of them, but this is his most definitive work, along with an online database that hopes to reach 100,000 quotations (now at about 30,000). Ambitious! Here, he focuses on metaphor because it "....is the principal way we have of conceptualizing abstract concepts like life, death, and time." (xiv) His love for and joy in language is inspiring and enriching. Some favorites from this book: Adventure: "How narrow is the line which separates an adventure from an ordeal." Understanding: "If you only hear one side of the story, you have no understanding at all." Adolescence: "Adolescence is a kind of emotional seasickness. Both are funny, but only in retrospect." Grothe gives a full citation of each quote he include of original 'author,' work, context and sometimes a commentary. This is a treasure for any word lover.

[Frank Minich · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a reference work, and the author has included QR codes which take you to additional examples. If you're looking for a metaphor, this is the real deal. Unfortunately, the book gets a little old after a while, if you're reading it as a book (from first to last page), but it's exactly what it purports to be.

[FoxieMoxie203 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good collection of quotes though not super fantastic writing in between them. A little to much talking about themselves. I didn't buy this book to hear the author's life story. I guess I was hoping for more of a dictionary feel. It is similar to a dictionary in the fact that it has alphabetized subject lists for the quotes but that's it. Still useful if you are looking for examples of metaphors.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway!
Thanks so much to the publisher and to the author, Mardy Grothe.

It's a nice size packed with metaphors for various situations!

[Edy Gies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great reference book with a fabulously catchy title. The categories are meticulously referenced and will be easy to check back with in the future. They also offer QR codes for search on the website.

[Doc Mcgarey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh just get it. It will SO get your wheels turning on the turning of a phrase.

[Alice Sather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really what I expected, but probably a great reference for an English teacher.

[Kimhu · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of a wide variety of quotes and metaphors.

[Susan Stans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book and shared quotes with friends and relatives. Read in several sections. Well worth the read.

[Adam Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good source of reference with a sound on-line library of quotes.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A catalogue of metaphors. A great book to dip in and out of. Gets repetitive if reading in one sitting.

[Too Blue Scientist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thật đẹp. Ngôn ngữ ý, đẹp tuyệt.

Hồi xưa mà được học ẩn dụ, hoán dụ như này thì lũ tụi mình chẳng ghét Văn học đâu nhỉ?! Ừ mà cũng không biết được, lỡ do tuổi tác với trải nghiệm thì sao.

Nhiều quote hay cực của nhiều tác giả nổi đình đám. Sẽ quay lại viếng thăm cuốn từ điển quote này nhiều lần.

[Harley Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5★: A MUST-OWN FOR METAPHOR-LOVERS! This was my first experience of author Mardy Grothe, and I am extremely thankful for his lifelong hobby of not only collecting and organizing quotes, but making sure they are ACCURATE. I've been swiping quotes from the Internet since the beginning of the Internet without doubting their accuracy, and I won't be doing that anymore. Dr. Mardy's database website is the first place I will go. And including QR codes in a physical book was genius. It took me a lot longer to get through this book than expected, but it is likely the first time I've fully read a book that is such a thorough collection of anything, or even considered "reference." I loved his footnotes and how he showed how quotes influenced later quotes. Dr. Mardy has several other books that are on my to-read and to-own list.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what I was expecting, but it's exactly a collection of metaphorical quotes—which got tedious and boring after awhile. I didn't read the entire book, but it wasn't all bad, it was interesting with some really fun, interesting, and amusing metaphors—I just couldn't read a giant book of them. And I don't think that's what it was intended for anyway.

* It was fun to flip through though.

[Cool · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a reference book. There is a succinct introduction about metaphors that is good but most of the intro is about how the author incorporated QR codes to reference his extensive database of metaphors. Personally, I don’t like QR codes but the author really does.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a lot of fun!

[Harvee Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun book to browse...and read at leisure.

[Susan Walker]

This book is a fun read. It is also very informative. It has thousands of quotations and will keep you interested for hours.

[Dariyn Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not finished absorbing this book. However, it is helpful. Another link in the chain