The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

I told the Christian reader -- -- -I say Christian -- -- -hoping he is one -- -- -and if he is not, I am sorry for it -- -- -and only beg he will consider the matter with himself, and not lay the blame entirely upon this book -- -- -

I told him, Sir -- -- -for in good truth, when a man is telling a story in the strange way I do mine, he is obliged continually to be going backwards and forwards to keep all tight together in the reader's fancy -- -- -which, for my own part, if I did not take heed to do more than at first, there is so much unfixed and equivocal matter starting up, with so many breaks and gaps in it, -- and so little service do the stars afford, which, nevertheless, I hang up in some of the darkest passages, knowing that the world is apt to lose its way, with all the lights the sun itself at noonday can give it -- -- -and now you see, I am lost myself! -- -- --