The Godfather 1972 - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine TV - Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life 1983 - The Sketch 1939 & Joyce Grenfell - Sophocles - William Shakespeare - Bhagavad Gita - Exodus 23:8 - Proverbs 17:8 - Proverbs 19:6 - James 1:17 - Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! 2006 - Richard Bach - Matthew Arnold - Ralph Waldo Emerson - Ernest Hemingway - Charles Dickens - Ovid - Bella Heathcote - Homer - David Hockney - The World’s Most Expensive Presents TV -
Some day, and that day may never come, I’ll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day accept this justice as a gift on my daughter’s wedding day. The Godfather 1972 starring Marlon Brando & Al Pacino & James Caan & Richard S Castellano & Richard Duvall & Sterling Hayden & John Marley & Richard Conte & Diane Keaton et al, director Francis Ford Coppola
A gift: that doesn’t sound very profitable. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine s2e7: Rules of Acquisition, Grand Negus
The Meaning of Life Part III: Fighting Each Other ... We may never meet again, sir, so – no, just a moment sir – see me and the lads we’ve had a little whip-around, sir. We’ve bought you something, sir. We’ve bought you this, sir. Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life 1983 starring Graham Chapman & John Cleese & Terry Gilliam & Eric Idle & Terry Jones & Michael Palin & Carol Cleveland & Patricia Quinn et al, director Terry Jones, soldiers on front line to Captain Biggs
Joyce Grenfell in ‘Useful and Acceptable Gifts’. The Sketch, 1939; viz The Revue
Enemies’ gifts are no gifts and do no good. Sophocles
Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind. William Shakespeare, Hamlet III i 102
Why do you make us love your goodly gifts,
And snatch them straight away? William Shakespeare, Pericles XI l23-24, Pericles
A gift is purer when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time and at the right place, and when we expect nothing in return.
... And a gift given to the wrong person, at the wrong time and the wrong place, or a gift which comes not from the heart, and is given with proud contempt, is a gift of darkness. Bhagavad Gita: Krishna’s Dialogue on the Soul 17:20&22
And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. Exodus 23:8
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. Proverbs 17:8
Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. Proverbs 19:6
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17
To celebrate the start of her 19th season on US television, talkshow host Oprah Winfrey gave every one of her 276-strong studio audience a brand new $25,000 (£13,000) car. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! 2006
Every gift from a friend is a wish for your happiness. Richard Bach
Use your gifts faithfully, and they shall be enlarged; practice what you know, and you shall attain to higher knowledge. Matthew Arnold
People with great gifts are easy to find, but symmetrical and balanced ones never. Ralph Waldo Emerson
The gods themselves cannot recall their gifts. Alfred Lord Tennyson
The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shock-proof, shit detector. This is the writer’s radar and all great writers have had it. Ernest Hemingway
What greater gift than the love of a cat. Charles Dickens
Gifts believe me captivate both men and gods. Jupiter himself was won over and appeased by gifts. Ovid
I collect skulls; I think that a beautiful skull is a really good gift for a guy. Bella Heathcote
The glorious gifts of the gods are not to be cast aside. Homer, The Iliad
Tobacco is America’s greatest gift to the world! David Hockney
Presents: and if you’re super-rich what do you buy for that special occasion when your loved ones are wealthy beyond dreams? The World’s Most Expensive Presents, Channel 4 2017
The Bespoke colouring book (£23,900) … Gold-plated bike (£250,000) … Shoes (£11.5 million) … Watch ($1 million) … Alligator poker set (£60,000) … Doggy ballgown (£40,000) … ibid.