Dantes passed through all the stages of torture natural to prisoners in suspense. He was sustained at first by that pride of conscious innocence which is the sequence to hope; then he began to doubt his own innocence, which justified in some measure the governor's belief in his mental alienation; and then, relaxing his sentiment of pride, he addressed his supplications, not to God, but to man. God is always the last resource. Unfortunates, who ought to begin with God, do not have any hope in him till they have exhausted all other means of deliverance.

When a man resolves to avenge himself, he should first of all tear out the heart from his breast.

Fool that I am," said he,"that I did not tear out my heart the day I resolved to revenge myself".

Edmond Dantes: I don't believe in God. Abbe Faria: That doesn't matter, He believes in you.

You are very amiable, no doubt, but you would be charming if you would only depart.

What a fool I was, not to tear my heart out on the day when I resolved to revenge myself!

Pain, thou art not an evil