"To me it seems a shocking idea. I despise and loathe myself, and yet you thrust self at me from every corner of the church as tho...ugh I loved and admired it. All religion does nothing but pursue me with self even into the next world."LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The spring is here, young and beautiful as ever, and absolutely shocking in its display of reckless maternity; but the Judas tree ...will bloom for you on the Bosphorus if you get there in time. No one ever loved the dog-wood and Judas tree as I have done, and it is my one crown of life to be sure that I am going to take them with me to heaven to enjoy real happiness with the Virgin and them.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
In the evening my wife insisted to read this journal, and, finding in it such explicit instances of licentiousness, she was much a...ffected and told me that she had come to a resolution never again to consider herself my wife; though for the sake of her children and mine, as a friend, she would preserve appearances. When I saw her in great uneasiness, and dreaded somewhat--though not with much apprehension--her resolution, I was awaked from my dream of licentiousness, and saw my bad conduct in a shocking light.... She comforted me with hopes of my amendment.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
This perpetual round of constrained civilities to persons quite indifferent to us, is the most provoking and tiresome thing in the... world, but it is unavoidable in a country town, where everybody is known.... 'Tis a most shocking and unworthy way of spending our precious irrecoverable time, to those who know not its value.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Mr. [Christopher] Smart the poet was here yesterday.... This ingenious writer is one of the most unfortunate of men--he has been t...wice confined in a mad house.... How great a pity so clever, so ingenious a man should be reduced to such shocking circumstances. He is extremely grave, and has still great wildness in his manner, looks and voice--'tis impossible to see him and to think of his works, without feeling the utmost pity and concern for him.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Well, the wedding is over, the good folks are joined for better for worse--a shocking clause that!--'tis preparing one to lead a l...ong journey, and to know the path is not altogether strewed with roses.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Of course I lie to people. But I lie altruistically--for our mutual good. The lie is the basic building block of good manners. Tha...t may seem mildly shocking to a moralist--but then what isn't?LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »