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Vathek
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"Vathek" Quotes

A Caliph's quest for supernatural power leads to his downfall.

Quotes

The sages, in the moment of peril, had recourse to their art, and the city of Samarah rose in an instant from its ruins.

William Beckford

magicresilience

The prophet solemnly cursed the earth that it should not henceforward yield anything but poisonous plants.

William Beckford

cursenature

Vathek, who was himself a stranger to fear, felt too full of confidence to be very cautious.

William Beckford

fearconfidence

The Caliph, who a few moments before had been so haughty and stately, was now on his knees before the Giaour, and in the attitude of a suppliant.

William Beckford

humilitytransformation

He who knows himself to be a fool is not the biggest fool; but pride, which ever is awake, supposes itself to be wise.

William Beckford

prideself-awareness

The guilty can never be at ease, nor the wretched happy.

William Beckford

guilthappiness

Vathek, instead of being depressed by his misfortunes, was animated with new courage.

William Beckford

misfortunecourage

The heart of Vathek was fired with the thirst of unbounded power, and he understood not the happiness of those who live in tranquillity.

William Beckford

powerhappiness

The Giaour, though marked with the seal of predestination, was not insensible to the charm of beauty.

William Beckford

predestinationbeauty

The air resounded with the groans of the dying and the lamentations of the living.

William Beckford

deathsuffering