Two large prominent eyes that rolled about to no purpose (for he was utterly short-sighted) a wide mouth, thick lips and inflated visage, gave him the air of a blind trumpeter. A deep untuneable voice which, instead of modulating, he enforced with unnecsessary pomp, a total neglect of his person, and ignorance of every civil attention, disgusted all who judge by appearance.

An ancient prophecy ... pronounced, That the castle and lordship of Otranto should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be grown too large to inhabit it!

Oh that I were seated as high as my ambition, I'd place my naked foot on the necks of monarchs.

Lawyers and rogues are vermin not easily rooted out of a rich soil.

Nine-tenths of the people were created so you would want to be with the other tenth.

It was said of old Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, that she never puts dots over her I s, to save ink.

I never found even in my juvenile hours that it was necessary to go a thousand miles in search of themes for moralizing.