This volume serves as a comprehensive, curated reference tool designed to provide quick access to 9,000 significant quotations from a wide historical and cultural spectrum. Edited by Angela Partington, the work draws upon the established Oxford tradition of lexicography to organize famous and infamous remarks for practical use by writers, students, and public speakers. The text functions as a condensed, portable alternative to the larger parent dictionary, offering a refined selection of entries that span from antiquity through the end of the twentieth century.

Experts and academics recognize this volume as a reliable, high-utility reference for those requiring quick access to verified quotations. Readers frequently note that the concise format makes it an accessible resource for casual browsing or professional research.