python-wikiquotes

Retrieve quotes from any Wikiquote.org page, or the quote of the day, with Python 3 (inspired by the wikipedia module). Uses the lxml module to parse HTML. Quotes are not always found correctly because of Wikiquote's varying page layouts. Contributions are welcome.

Usage

>>> import wikiquote

>>> wikiquote.search('Dune')
# ['Dune', 'Frank Herbert', 'Children of Dune (TV miniseries)', 'Dune (film)', 'Dune (TV miniseries)']

>>> wikiquote.quotes('Dune', max_quotes = 3) # max_quotes defaults to 20
# ['A popular man arouses the jealousy of the powerful.', 'Parting with friends is a sadness. A place is only a place.', 'Hope clouds observation.']

>>> wikiquote.quote_of_the_day() # returns a (quote, author) tuple
# 'Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.', 'Oscar Wilde'

>>> james_bond_quote_index = wikiquote.explore_category('Category:James Bond 007')

>>> wikiquote.random_quote_from_categories(james_bond_quote_index)
#("James Bond: Sir! They're not going to do anything! I owe it to Leiter. He's put his life on the line for me many times.", 'License to Kill')

Some page titles will lead to a Disambiguation page (like Matrix), which will raise a DisambiguationPageException exception. If the page does not exist, a NoSuchPageException will be raised instead.

Tips

While random_quote_from_categories works perfectly, it needs a very slow pre-indexing using explore_category. If you can use something else, do it. Use random.choice() to select a random quote froma single page:

>>> import wikiquote, random

>>> random.choice(wikiquote.quotes('Linus Torvalds'))
# 'WE DO NOT BREAK USERSPACE!'

Language

Wikiquote.org has multiple languages: Currently supported languages are english and french. Use parameter lang if you want a quote in french

>>> import wikiquote

>>> wikiquote.quotes('Dune')[0]
#"A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct. This every sister of the Bene Gesserit knows. To begin your study of the life of Muad'Dib, then take care that you first place him in his time: born in the 57th year of the Padishah Emperor, Shaddam IV. And take the most special care that you locate Muad'Dib in his place: the planet Arrakis. Do not be deceived by the fact that he was born on Caladan and lived his first fifteen years there. Arrakis, the planet known as Dune, is forever his place."


>>> wikiquote.quotes('Dune',lang='fr')[0]
#"Je ne connaîtrai pas la peur, car la peur tue l'esprit. La peur est la petite mort qui conduit à l'oblitération totale. J'affronterai ma peur. Je lui permettrai de passer sur moi, au travers de moi. Et lorsqu'elle sera passée, je tournerai mon œil intérieur sur son chemin. Et là où elle sera passée, il n'y aura plus rien. Rien que moi."

French specific functions

Some quotes from the french Wikiquotes are traductions from other languages and come with their original quote. Use quotes_fr_original to get both quotes:

>>> import wikiquote

>>> wikiquote.quotes_fr_original('scarface')[6]
('Dis bonjour à mon ami !', 'Say hello to my little friend!!')

Developing / Testing

Check that all tests pass:

$ python3 -m unittest -v

Check that wikiquote.py follows the PEP8 conventions (pep8 required):

$ pep8 wikiquote.py

TODO

Improve the way quotes are searched for in the HTML page, avoid returning things like external references, links or notes from quotes.
Add more/better tests.

mspicer / python-wikiquotes