Chance happens to all, but to turn chance to account is the gift of few.

The cleverness of avarice is but the cunning of imbecility.

One vice worn out makes us wiser than fifty tutors.

Genius, the Pythian of the beautiful, leaves its large truths a riddle to the dull.

Poverty is relative, and, therefor not ignoble.

It is difficult to say who do you the most mischief, enemies with the worst intentions, or friends with the best.

It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents - except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.