keys quotes

Like giving the keys of the world's largest liquor storetoa confirmed alcoholic.

- GeorgeWildman Ball
On oil profiteering that permitted an arms-buying spree by Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, last shah of Iran. Quoted in William Shawcross The Shah's Last Ride (1988).

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

-Bible (NewTestament)
St Matthew16:18^19.

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

-Bible (NewTestament)
Revelation1:18.

   Thou hast the keys of Paradise, oh just, subtle, and mighty opium!

-Johnny (John Christopher) Depp
Confessions of an English Opium Eater (originally serialized in the London Magazine, published1822).

True to oneself! Which self? Which of my many†hundreds of selves?† Therearemomentswhen I feel I am nothing but the small clerk of some hotel without a proprietor, who has all hisworkcutoutto enter the names and hand the keys to the wilful guests.

-Beauchamp
  Journal entry,  Apr.

Seated one day at the organ, I was weary and ill at ease, And my fingers wandered idly Over the noisy keys; I know not what I was playing, Or what I was dreaming then, But I struck one chord of music, Like the sound of a great Amen.

- Adelaide Ann pseudonym of  Mary Berwick Proctor
  'The Lost Chord'.

Just as my fingers on these keys Make music, so the self-same sounds On my spirit make a music, too. Music is feeling, then, not a sound; And thus it is that what I feel, Here in this room, desiring you, Thinking of your blue-shadowed silk, Is music.

-Wallace Stevens
  Harmonium,'Peter Quince at the Clavier', pt.1.

The Shadow cloaked from head to foot, Who keeps the keys of all the creeds.

-Tennyson
  In Memoriam A.H.H., canto 23, l.4^5.