We get forwards in the world not so much by doing services, as receiving them: you take a withering twig, and put it in the ground; and then you wate… - Laurence Sterne

Pray my Dear, quoth my mother, have you not forgot to wind up the clock? — Good G — ! cried my father, making an exclamation, but taking care to moderate his voice at the same time, — — Did ever woman, since the creation of the world, interrupt a man with such a silly question? Pray, what was your father saying? — — — — Nothing.

Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, Slavery! said I,—still thou art a bitter draught! and though thousands in all ages have been made to drink of thee, thou art no less bitter on that account.—’Tis thou, thrice sweet and gracious goddess, addressing myself to Liberty, whom all in public or in private worship, whose taste is grateful, and ever will be so, till Nature herself shall change.—No tint of words can spot thy snowy mantle, or chymic power turn thy sceptre into iron:—with thee to smile upon him as he eats his crust, the swain is happier than his monarch, from whose court thou art exiled!

A man should know something of his own country too, before he goes abroad.