From my infancy I was imbued with high hopes and a lofty ambition.

One as deformed and horrible as myself, could not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species, and have the same defects... with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being.

The day of my departure at length arrived. Clerval spent the last evening with us. He had endeavoured to persuade his father to permit him to accompany me and to become my fellow student, but in vain. His father was a narrow-minded trader, and saw idleness and ruin in the aspirations and ambition of his son. Henry deeply felt the misfortune of being debarred from a liberal education. He said little, but when he spoke I read in his kindling eye and in his animated glance a restrained but firm resolve not to be chained to the miserable details of commerce.

Teach him to think for himself? Oh, my God, teach him rather to think like other people!

When falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness?

If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear!

Once a king ... it was impossible, without risk of life, to sink to a private station.