Liberty, equality, fraternity, or death; — the last, much the easiest to bestow, O Guillotine!

More from A Tale of Two Cities

• A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.
• It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.
• Repression is the only lasting philosophy.
• “I’ll tell you,” said she, in the same hurried passionate whisper, “what real love is. It is blind devotion, unquestioning self-humiliation, utter submission, trust and belief against yourself and against the whole world, giving up your whole heart and soul to the smiter – as I did!”
• In a word, it was impossible for me to separate her, in the past or in the present, from the innermost life of my life.
• It was the best of times, it was the worst of times