By the by, who ever knew a man who never read or wrote neither who hadn't got some small back parlour which he would call a study!

I am at the moment deaf in the ears, hoarse in the throat, red in the nose, green in the gills, damp in the eyes, twitchy in the joints and fractious in temper from a most intolerable and oppressive cold.

I'm awful dull, but I hope I've beat out something nigh the rights of this at last. And so GOD bless you, dear old Pip, old chap, GOD bless you!

The cramped monotony of my existence grinds me away by the grain.

An observer of men who finds himself steadily repelled by some apparently trifling thing in a stranger is right to give it great weight. It may be the clue to the whole mystery. A hair or two will show where a lion is hidden. A very little key will open a very heavy door.

Reflect upon your present blessings

So, throughout life, our worst weaknesses and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people whom we most despise.