Happiness is in its highest degree the sister of goodness.

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

The agony of my feelings allowed me no respite; no incident occurred from which my rage and misery could not extract its food.

I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.

Thus strangely are our souls constructed, and by slight ligaments are we bound to prosperity and ruin.

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

I am very averse to bringing myself forward in print, but as my account will only appear as an appendage to a former production, and as it will be confined to such topics as have connection with my authorship alone, I can hardly accuse myself of a personal intrusion.