I may be kindly, I am ordinarily gentle, but in my line of business I am obliged to will terribly what I will at all.

You were in a mood to quarrel. Please inform me once the inclination passes.

I shall be an autocrat: that's my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that's his.

The use of torture is contrary to sound judgment and common sense. Humanity itself cries out against it, and demands it to be utterly abolished.

You should know our mania for building is stronger than ever. It is a diabolical thing. It consumes money and the more you build, the more you want to build. It's a sickness like being addicted to alcohol.

I do not love strife, because I have always found that in the end each remains of the same opinion.

to tempt and be tempted are closely allied; and in spite of all the finest moral maxims buried in the mind, when emotion interferes, when feeling makes its appearance, one is already much further involved that one realizes, and I have still not learnt how to prevent its appearance.