I'm a cynical idealist.

The words seemed to bite physically into Gatsby.

The kiss originated when the first male reptile licked the first female reptile, implying in a subtle way that she was as succulent as the small reptile he had for dinner the night before.

Possibly it had occurred to him the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. [...] It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one.

Can’t repeat the past?…Why of course you can!

In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.

The transition from libertine to prig was so complete.