Charles Dickens,
Hard Times — Book the First, Chapter XI
(1854)
“ Bounderby, ‘about things you don’t understand; and don’t you call the Institutions of your country a muddle, or you’ll get yourself into a real muddle one of these fine mornings. The institutions of your country are not your piece-work, and the only thing you have got to do, is, to mind your piece-work. You didn’t take your wife for fast and for loose; but for better for worse. If she has turned out worse - why, all we have got to say is, she might have turned out better.’''Tis a muddle,’ said Stephen, shaking his head as he moved to the door. ”
