When it doesn’t succeed, one’s only got oneself to blame, that’s all. And it doesn’t often succeed, not often, not often.
 Émile Zola, L'Assommoir (1877). copy citation

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Author Émile Zola
Source L'Assommoir
Topic blame
Date 1877
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink https://www.gutenberg.org/files/8600/8600-h/8600-h.htm

Context

“yes, madame’s the person involved,” said the wife in her turn, as she stared rudely at Gervaise. “Mon Dieu! We’ve no advice to give you, we haven’t. It’s a funny idea to go and get married, all the same. Anyhow, it’s your own wish. When it doesn’t succeed, one’s only got oneself to blame, that’s all. And it doesn’t often succeed, not often, not often.” She uttered these last words slower and slower, and shaking her head, she looked from the young woman’s face to her hands, and then to her feet as though she had wished to undress her and see the very pores of her skin.” source