Alice in Wonderland Quote by the Gryphon

This rather blunt quote by the Gryphon is one of my all time favorite Alice in Wonderland quotes!

Alice is having a conversation with the Mock Turtle and the Gryphon by the beach. Alice has been mostly listening to the other two telling their stories and songs but then the Gryphon asks Alice to tell about her adventures as well.

When Alice begins her tale a little hesitantly the Mock Turtle wants her to explain it all. But the Gryphon is impatient and wants to hear only the exiting parts. This is what he says:

"The adventures first...explanations take such a dreadful time."

If you don't know what a "Gryphon" is true to a conventional view of a griffin it is part lion part eagle. It has the head, talons and wings of an eagle and the body and tail of a lion. Pretty cool, eh?

[Image credit: Gryphon illustration by Upi Olin]