If death, said my father, reasoning with himself, is nothing but the separation of the soul from the body; — and if it is true that people can walk a… - Laurence Sterne

Now — Ten thousand, and ten thousand times ten thousand (for matter and motion are infinite) are the ways by which a hat may be dropped upon the ground, without any effect. — Had he flung it, or thrown it, or cast it, or skimmed it, or squirted, or let it slip or fall in any possible direction under heaven, — or in the best direction that could be given to it, — had he dropped it like a goose — like a puppy — like an ass — or in doing it, or even after he had done, had he looked like a fool, — like a ninny — like a nicompoop — it had fail'd, and the effect upon the heart had been lost.

I wish either my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me; had they duly consider'd how much depended upon what they were then doing;

The desire of life and health is implanted in man's nature;- the love of liberty and enlargement is a sister-passion to it