[1] ["Tu" and "Seigneur.">[
CXXXVIII
Directly the hope of revenge is possible, the feeling of hatred returns. Until the last weeks of my imprisonment it never entered my head to run away and break the solemn oath I had sworn to my friend. Two confidences these—made this morning in my presence by a gentleman cut-throat who favoured us with the history of his life. (Faenza, 1817.)
CXXXIX
All Europe, put together, could never make one French book of the really good type—the Lettres Persanes, for example.
CXL
I call pleasure every impression which the soul would rather receive than not receive.[1]
I call pain every impression which the soul would rather not receive than receive.
If I want to go to sleep rather than be conscious of my feelings, they are undoubtedly pain. Hence the desire of love is not pain, for the lover will leave the most agreeable society in order to day-dream in peace.
Time weakens pleasures of the body and aggravates its pains.