Ian Brent

“Beautiful maiden,” answered Candide, “when a man is in love, is jealous, and has been flogged by the Inquisition, he becomes lost to all reflection.”
― Voltaire, Candide

“They slipped briskly into an intimacy from which they never recovered.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise

“As an open fire in a dark room throws romance and pathos into the quiet faces at its edge, so she cast her lights and shadows around the rooms that held her,”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise

“Do you think,” said Candide, “that mankind always massacred one another as they do now? Were they always guilty of lies, fraud, treachery, ingratitude, inconstancy, envy, ambition, and cruelty? Were they always thieves, fools, cowards, gluttons, drunkards, misers, calumniators, debauchees, fanatics, and hypocrites?”   “Do you believe,” said Martin, “that hawks have always been accustomed to eat pigeons when they came in their way?”   “Doubtless,” said Candide.   “Well then,” replied Martin, “if hawks have always had the same nature, why should you pretend that mankind change theirs?”
― Voltaire, Candide