At one o'clock on the 16th I went to the Rue d'Antin. The voice of the auctioneer could be heard from the outer door. The rooms were crowded with people. There were all the celebrities of the most elegant impropriety, furtively examined by certain great ladies who had again seized the opportunity of the sale in order to be able to see, close at hand, women whom they might never have anot...

—— Alexandre Dumas Fils《The Lady of the Camellias》

One day the girl's face was transfigured. In the midst of all the debauches mapped out by her mother, it seemed to her as if God had left over for her one happiness. And why indeed should God, who had made her without strength, have left her without consolation, under the sorrowful burden of her life?

—— Alexandre Dumas Fils《The Lady of the Camellias》

All these circumstances which I had so often witnessed came back to my memory, and I regretted her death as one might regret the destruction of a beautiful work of art.

—— Alexandre Dumas Fils《The Lady of the Camellias》

These unfortunate creatures whenever they go out are always accompanied by somebody or other. As no man cares to make himself conspicuous by being seen in their company, and as they are afraid of solitude, they take with them either those who are not well enough off to have a carriage, or one or another of those elegant, ancient ladies, whose elegance is a little inexplicable, and to whom one can ...

—— Alexandre Dumas Fils《The Lady of the Camellias》

Unfortunately the mystery had vanished with the goddess, and, for all their endeavours, they discovered only what was on sale since the owner's decease, and nothing of what had been on sale during her lifetime.

—— Alexandre Dumas Fils《The Lady of the Camellias》

Is there anything sadder in the world than the old age of vice, especially in woman? She preserves no dignity, she inspires no interest. The everlasting repentance, not of the evil ways followed, but of the plans that have miscarried, the money that has been spent in vain, is as saddening a thing as one can well meet with.

—— Alexandre Dumas Fils《The Lady of the Camellias The Lady of the Camellias》

In my opinion, it is impossible to create characters until one has spent a long time in studying men, as it is impossible to speak a language until it has been seriously acquired.

—— Alexandre Dumas Fils《The Lady of the Camellias》

I was within and without,

simultaneously enchanted and repelled

by the inexhaustible variety of life.

—— Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald《The Great Gatsby》

生活没有义务满足我们的期望，我们应该接受现实并因情况不是更糟而感恩。

—— 玛格丽特·米切尔《飘》

Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! — I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of morta...

—— Jane Eyre《The Count of Monte Cristo》

Has not the count just told us that all human wisdom is summed up in two words?---Wait and hope.

—— Alexandre Dumas《The Count of Monte Cristo》

世界上最伟大的事，是一个人懂得如何作自己的主人。

—— 蒙田《随笔集》

凡是过去，皆为序曲。

—— 莎士比亚《哈姆雷特》

最大的牺牲是忍辱，最大的忍辱是预备反抗。

—— 老舍《骆驼祥子》

Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.

—— Edison《Harpers Monthly》