I suppose it was--noble--and women cannot be noble." "No, it was only expedient.

The best way to take the world is to wring it dry--not to try and convert it and make it better, but to turn its vices to account.

That method has the double advantage of serving one's purpose at the time, and standing as a warning later.

The best way to cure vice is to turn it ruthlessly to one's own account.

That is what we are doing with Durnovo.