The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

What a jovial and a merry world would this be, may it please your worships, but for that inextricable labyrinth of debts, cares, woes, want, grief, discontent, melancholy, large jointures, impositions, and lies!

Could the world have been sued like a body-corporate, -- my father had brought an action upon the case, and trounced it sufficiently; but to fall foul of individuals about it -- -- -as every soul who had mentioned the affair, did it with the greatest pity imaginable; -- -- 'twas like flying in the very face of his best friends: -- -- -And yet to acquiesce under the report, in silence -- was to acknowledge it openly, -- at least in the opinion of one half of the world; and to make a bustle again, in contradicting it, -- was to confirm it as strongly in the opinion of the other half.