'Tis e'er the lot of the innocent in the world to fly to the wolf for succor from the lion. — John Barth

'Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and lay open the soul of the doer.

Is a man a salvage at heart, skinned o'er with fragile manners? Or is salvagery but a faint taint in the natural man's gentility, which erupts now and again like pimples on an angel's arse?

More history's made by secret handshakes than by battles, bills, and proclamations.