Mamma was advancing into years, and dishonored herself! I had proofs that she could never more be happy here below; it therefore remained to me to seek my own happiness, having lost all hopes of partaking of hers.

I was sometimes irresolute, and fluctuated from one idea to another, and from project to project.

My journey to Venice would have thrown me into public life, had the man with whom, almost against my inclination, I was connected there had common sense.

I was easily discouraged, especially in undertakings of length and difficulty.

The ill success of this disgusted me with every other; and, according to my old maxims, considering distant objects as deceitful allurements, I resolved in future to provide for immediate wants, seeing nothing in life which could tempt me to make extraordinary efforts.
It was precisely at this time we became acquainted.