From Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini

"Blind only where it would have been presumption to have seen."
"And yet," she answered him with a flash of the Aline he had known of old, "I have never found you lack presumption."

"He was suffering from the loss of an illusion."

"If the windmill should prove too formidable," said he, from the threshold, "I may see what can be done with the wind."

"...for he had learnt by experience that it was a face not often to be trusted for an indication of the real thoughts that moved behind it."

"The pity was begotten of the love she had lately inspired in him.  It might be likened to the dregs of love, all that remained after the potent wine of it had been drained off."

"You see, I am not sure that hell hereafter is a certainty, whilst I am quite sure that it can be a certainty in this life; and I desire you to continue to live yet awhile that you may taste something of its bitterness."

"Regret of neglected opportunity is the worst hell that a living soul can inhabit."

"Essentially a theorist, Andre-Louis perceived the theory suggested, which Danet himself in suggesting it had not perceived."

"What a man dares to do, he should dare to confess -- unless he is a coward."

"I have been detained by an engagement of a pressing nature.  I bring you also the excuses of M. de Chabrillane.  He, unfortunately, will be permanently absent from this Assembly in future."

"Nobody laughed now at his flippancy.  He did not intend that anybody should.  He intended to be terrible; and he knew that the more flippant and casual his tone, the more terrible would be its effect. He produced exactly the effect he desired."

"...he had, you must remember, that rarely level vision which sees thing in their just proportions, and never either magnifies or reduces them by sentimental considerations."