The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

-- -- That provision should be made for continuing the race of so great, so exalted and godlike a Being as man -- I am far from denying -- but philosophy speaks freely of everything; and therefore I still think and do maintain it to be a pity, that it should be done by means of a passion which bends down the faculties, and turns all the wisdom, contemplations, and operations of the soul backwards -- -- -a passion, my dear, continued my father, addressing himself to my mother, which couples and equals wise men with fools, and makes us come out of our caverns and hiding-places more like satyrs and four-footed beasts than men.

I know it will be said, continued my father (availing himself of the Prolepsis), that in itself, and simply taken -- -- -like hunger, or thirst, or sleep -- -- 'tis an affair neither good or bad -- or shameful or otherwise.