Henry Fielding

Heroes, whatever high ideas we may have of them, are mortal and not divine. We are all as God made us, and many of us much worse.

It is widely held that too much wine will dull a man's desire. Indeed it will... in a dull man.

Happy the man and happy he alone, he who can call today his own. He who secure within can say, tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.

Our hero grew apace. A country lad far happier in the woods than in the study. A bad hero it may be, with many a weakness. But then, if Adam hadn't had such a weakness for apples, there would be nobody to tell Tom's story at all. And a part of that story tells of the sport that Tom found in the woods.

It is not true that drink alters a man's character. It may reveal it more fully.

Let dogs delight to bark and bite, for God has made them so. Let bears and lions growl and fight, for 'tis their nature to. But ladies, you should never let such angry passions rise. Your little hands were never made to tear each other's eyes.

Our hero, alas, was always being exploited by villains like Black George, for a generous man is merely a fool in the eyes of a thief.

Molly's favors, after all, had not been bestowed on Tom alone. Our hero, unlike many other men, was fortunate enough to discover the father of his child in time.

In the west of England there was once a Squire Allworthy. After several months in London he returns home.

Mr. Thwackum and Mr. Square were Tom's tutors. Over the years they tried, with little success, to thrash into Tom a sense of virtue and religion. They had, however, a more apt pupil. Soon after Tom had been found, the Squire's sister Bridget married a captain Blifil and they had a son. This young man was quite different than Tom. He was sober, discreet and pious beyond his age and the whole neighborhood resounded in his praise.

Molly's reputation was destroyed, and Tom's heart was heavy with remorse. Perhaps Mr. Square was right: that the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.

It's not true that drink changes a man's character. It can reveal it more clearly. The Squire's recovery brought joy to Tom, to his tutors, sheer disappointment.

It is hard when a woman leaves a man nothing but memories and a muff.

'Tis said that hope is a bad supper, but makes a good breakfast.

To die for a cause is a common evil. To die for nonsense is the devil.

Vauxhall Garden! Where people come to see and to be seen! In heaps they run, Some to undo, and some to be undone.