— My brother <i>Toby</i>, quoth she, is going to be married to Mrs. <i>Wadman</i>. — Then he will never, quoth my father, be able to lie <i>diagonall… - Laurence Sterne

The desire for knowledge, like the thirst for riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.

[T]he worst of human maladies is poverty — though that is a second lye — for poverty of spirit is worse than poverty of purse, by ten thousand per cent.

As for the clergy — No — If I say a word against them, I'll be shot. — I have no desire, — and besides, if I had, — I durst not for my soul touch upon the subject, — with such weak nerves and spirits, and in the condition I am in at present, 'twould be as much as my life was worth, to deject and contrist myself with so bad and melancholy an account, — and therefore, 'tis safer to draw a curtain across, and hasten from it, as fast as I can, to the main and principal point I have undertaken to clear up, — and that is, How it comes to pass, that your men of least wit are reported to be men of most judgment.