History CatchPhrase / Literature

* ''Literature/WarriorCats'': "Mouse dung!" as an exclamation of frustration.

* Creator/CharlesDickens's novels tend to be full of catch phrases because they were originally published as serials, and with his penchant for LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters, catch phrases made a convenient way for readers to keep all the characters straight.

* [[Literature/DeathStar Lieutenant Villain Dance]] has a strong tendency to think or say "Never happen!", as in "it will never", when he considers failing in his duty or being shot down.
* Literature/{{Dinotopia}}: "Breath deep, seek peace" or the Skybax riders' variant. "Breath deep, fly high, seek peace" or simply "Fly high, seek peace".

* In Creator/DanAbnett's Literature/GauntsGhosts novels, Beltayn, Gaunt's adjunctant and vox officer, says "Something's awry" to report any kind of problem. Up to and including imminent disaster that could kill them all -- a fact LampShaded in the books.

* [[Creator/HarryTurtledove Into the Darkness]], King Swemmel of Unkerlant is inordinately fond of 'efficiency' in all things.
* The Literature/JeevesAndWooster stories have plenty:

* In Clint [=McCullough=]'s ''{{Literature/Nevada}}'', the main character, Meade Slaughter, when surprised by something, says "I'll be damned" so much that after it's his only response three times in a row, his daughter in law [[LampshadeHanging lampshades it]]: "Meade, if that's your only input, I might as well be talking to the wall."

* A frequent comment of Mrs. Bird in Michael Bond's Literature/PaddingtonBear series was "Bears always land on their feet."
* ''Literature/TheReynardCycle'' : "He/She/They had some skill," is Isengrim's. It usually refers to someone who he's just killed, and is meant as a genuine compliment.

* Literature/SherlockHolmes's BeamMeUpScotty is: "Elementary, my dear Watson", a line never found in the novel series. Then there's "The game's afoot!" which is actually a Shakespeare quote that Holmes utters ''once'' in the original stories. He does, however, have at least one genuine catchphrase: "You know my methods. Apply them!" This phrase or variations on it are used maybe six or seven times in the canon, but it hardly ever shows up in adaptations.

* From Robert Jordan's ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' -

* In ''{{Literature/Wonder 2012}}'', Summer's is "cool beans".

* Gratuity Tucci, KidHero of ''TheTrueMeaningOfSmekday,'' frequently says "Pardon my language." [[spoiler:It apparently remains her catch phrase throughout her life, eventually becoming her last words.]]

* ''{{Tarzan}}'': Averted by way of BeamMeUpScotty; "Me Tarzan, you Jane" is not found in the Tarzan novels.

* Anastasia: "Oh, my."

* Tinker Bell from ''Literature/PeterPan'' has a tendency to say to Peter, "You silly ass!" She does it so often that even Wendy, who doesn't understand Tink's fairy language, is able to recognize it.

* Gollum's "My prrrecious..." from ''Literature/LordOfTheRings''.

* Karsa Orlong from ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'' is fond of telling anyone watching him to 'Witness!' --usually followed by something very badass or just plain [[RefugeInAudacity insane]].

* ''Literature/TheYhinkingMachine'': Professor Van Dusen is fond of saying "Two plus two equals four, not sometimes but always" (or minor variations thereof). It's his way of saying logic always applies, no matter what the situation.

** Akane uses "Musashi's ___", such as "Musashi's sword" and "Musashi's gravestone." Almost certainly a reference to MiyamotoMusashi.

* In Creator/LloydAlexander's ''Literature/ChroniclesOfPrydain'',

* From the Literature/VorkosiganSaga: Emperor Gregor Vorbarra has "Let's see what happens," used after making unconventional decisions.
** And Ivan Vorpatril often protests, "It's not my fault."

* [[Literature/{{Dragaera}} "Shut up, Loiosh."]]

* Garion's catchphrase in Creator/DavidEddings's ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', which the other characters quickly become tired of, is "[[IJustWantToBeNormal Why me?]]" Eventually answered as "Would you have trusted anyone else to do it?", but not before various other characters have taken it up briefly. In one scene Belgarath (who's TheObiWan, and usually the one being asked and not answering), says it, much to everyone's amusement.

* Gratuity Tucci, KidHero of ''TheTrueMeaningOfSmekday,'' frequently says "Pardon my language." [[spoiler:It apparently remains her catch phrase throughout her life, eventually becoming her last words.]]

** Jesus would often preface important statements with "I tell you the truth:..."

* The titular character in Creator/JohnBrunner's ''The Traveller in Black'': "I have many names, but a single nature"; "You may call me Mazda, or anything you please"; and, of course, "As you wish, so be it".

* Gratuity Tucci, the KidHero of ''TheTrueMeaningOfSmekday'' frequently says "Pardon my language." [[spoiler:It apparently remains her catch phrase throughout her life, eventually becoming her last words.]]

* In ''Literature/PleaseDontTellMyParentsImASupervillain'', Penny likes to swear by Nicola Tesla. Another mad scientist, The Expert, does this as well.

-->'''The Dothraki in general:''' It is known.
-->'''The Braavosi in general''' Just so.