One has no great hopes from Birmingham. I always say there is something direful in the sound.

-Austen,Jane
  Mrs Elton speaking. Emma, ch. 36.

A merry road, a mazy road, and such as we did tread The night we went to Birmingham by way of Beachy Head.

-Chesterton, G(ilbert) K(eith)
  'The Rolling English Road'.

   A good lord mayor of Birmingham in a lean year.

-Lloyd George (of Dwyfor), David, 1st Earl
Of Neville Chamberlain. Quotedin  A  JP  Taylor From theBoer War to the Cold War: Essays on Twentieth-Century Europe (1995), p.363

   When Jesus came to Birmingham they simply passed Him by, They never hurt a hair of him, they only let Him die. For menhadgrownmoretenderandthey wouldnot give Him pain, Theyonlyjust passeddownthestreet, and left Himinthe rain.

-'Woodbine Willie'
Peace Rhymes of a Padre,'Indifference'.