“And it is you, spirit--with will and energy, and virtue and purity--that I want, not alone with your brittle frame.”

“Never,” said he, as he ground his teeth, “never was anything at onceso frail and so indomitable. A mere reed she feels in my hand!” (And heshook me with the force of his hold.) “I could bend her with my fingerand thumb: and what good would it do if I bent, if I uptore, if I crushedher? Consider that eye: consider the resolute, wild, free thing lookingout of it, defying me, with more than courage—with a stern triumph.Whatever I do with its cage, I cannot get at it—the savage, beautifulcreature! If I tear, if I rend the slight prison, my outrage will only let thecaptive loose. Conqueror I might be of the house; but the inmate wouldescape to heaven before I could call myself possessor of its clay dwellingplace.And it is you, spirit—with will and energy, and virtue and purity—that I want: not alone your brittle frame. Of yourself you couldcome with soft flight and nestle against my heart, if you would: seizedagainst your will, you will elude the grasp like an essence—you will vanishere I inhale your fragrance.”

“I hate purity, I hate goodness! I don't want virtue to exist anywhere. I want everyone to be corrupt to the bones.”

“Behold how each of your virtues is covetous of the highest place; each wants your whole spirit to be her herald, it wants your whole power, in wrath, hatred, and love.”

“It is purity of spirit that will keep corruption from the flesh”

“Well,Happiness and sadness are two virtues of mind.When one captures you,other is no more in the frame.”