It is indolence... Indolence and love of ease; a want of all laudable ambition, of taste for good company, or of inclination to take the trouble of being agreeable, which make men clergymen. A clergyman has nothing to do but be slovenly and selfish; read the newspaper, watch the weather, and quarrel with his wife. His curate does all the work and the business of his own life is to dine.

Grant us peace, Almighty Father, so to pray as to deserve to be heard.

Where the wound had been given, there must the cure be found, if any where.

Sophia shrieked and fainted on the ground – I screamed and instantly ran mad. We remained thus mutually deprived of our senses, some minutes, and on regaining them were deprived of them again. For an Hour and a Quarter did we continue in this unfortunate situation – Sophia fainting every moment and I running mad as often. At length a groan from the hapless Edward (who alone retained any share of life) restored us to ourselves.

There is a monsterous deal of stupid quizzing, & common-place nonsense talked, but scarcely any wit.

I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle.

it is a shocking trick for a young person to be always lolling upon a sofa.