To have a man's fate depend on the speed with which a beast of burden walks—that's what our justice comes down to.

If you mean that in earnest, then your bet is absurd and despicable. While you, wretch, living among the drinkers of water, go dry in the name of a mad idea, I will be sipping my sherry.

For fifteen years I've been using no knives or forks, so you should not have sent them.

He's sane and not mad. Tomorrow at exactly twelve o'clock he will regain his freedom. His term is up.

Why should I wait until I have no teeth and rheumatism?

To prove to you that life and human intelligence accomplish the greatest miracles in half an hour.

To live anyhow is better than not at all.

By all, holy truth, even if, inspired by the mad idea, you really resolve to stand the full fifteen years.

In your books I've climbed to the peaks of Elbrus and Mont Blanc, and from there looked upon the life of the earth.

The sound of the prisoner's steps became less and less audible, the fur coat rustled, the gate banged, and all grew quiet.

The Bet