The Moonstone

by Wilkie Collins

It is my conviction, or my delusion, no matter which, that crime brings its own fatality with it.

Whether it is a person’s death or a death of innocence

"Now I saw, though too late, the Folly of beginning a Work before we count the Cost, and before we judge rightly of our own Strength to go through with it."

It is one of my rules in life, never to notice what I don't understand. I steered a middle course between the Objective side and the Subjective side. In plain English I stared hard, and said nothing.

Haha!

Gentlefolks in general have a very awkward rock ahead in life – the rock ahead of their own idleness. Their lives being, for the most part, passed in looking about them for something to do, it is curious to see – especially when their tastes are of what is called the intellectual sort – how often they drift blindfold into some nasty pursuit. Nine times out of ten they take to torturing something, or to spoiling something – and they firmly believe they are improving their minds, when the plain truth is, they are only making a mess in the house.

Boredom often leads to creative endeavors. Most of us are not talented enough to turn our creativity into genius art, but we do make new things. In this way, it is said that leisure is needed to create culture.

Study your wife closely, for the next four-and-twenty hours. If your good lady doesn't exhibit something in the shape of a contradiction in that time, Heaven help you! – you have married a monster.

Again a tongue-in-cheek laugh. The Victorians believed women to be changeable creatures controlled by the moon and their emotions. So when faced with an UNchangebale creature- beware, it just might be an unnatural monster!

We had our breakfasts – whatever happens in a house, robbery or murder, it doesn't matter, you must have your breakfast.

I am an average good Christian, when you don't push my Christianity too far. And all the rest of you – which is a great comfort – are, in this respect, much the same as I am.)