Allow me now to return to the cottagers, whose story excited in me such various feelings of indignation, delight, and wonder, but which all terminated in additional love and reverence for my protectors (for so I loved, in an innocent, half painful self-deceit, to call them).

With how many things are we on the brink of becoming acquainted, if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries.

What terrified me will terrify others; and I need only describe the spectre which had haunted my midnight pillow.

My person was hideous and my stature gigantic. What did this mean? Who was I? What was I? Whence did I come? What was my destination? These questions continually recurred, but I was unable to solve them.

Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.

I am alone and miserable. Only someone as ugly as I am could love me.

Supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world.