Holding this book in your hand, sinking back in your soft armchair, you will say to yourself: perhaps it will amuse me. And after you have read this story of great misfortunes, you will no doubt dine well, blaming the author for your own insensitivity, accusing him of wild exaggeration and flights of fancy. But rest assured: this tragedy is not a fiction. All is true.

Loyalty in time of need is possibly one of the noblest of victories a courtier can win over himself.

Unintelligent persons are like weeds that thrive in good ground; they love to be amused in proportion to the degree in which they weary themselves.

Pure herring oil is the port wine of English cats

Equality may be a right, but no power on earth can convert it into fact.

Women, perhaps even require a little hypocrisy.

For the journalist, anything probable is gospel truth.