Nikolai Gogol

“ May the devil fly away with you !
GOVERNOR. I thank you sincerely, and wish you the same !
ANNA. We intend to live in Petersburg now. Here, there's such an air, I must say . . . it's really too rustic ! . . . I find it excessively disagreeable . . . my husband too ... he will get general's rank there !
GOVERNOR. Yes, I own, gentlemen, I've a consumed ambition to be a general !
LUKA. And may God grant it !
RASTAKOVSKI. With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible ! ”

“ POSTMASTER. Neither the one nor the other; the devil knows what he is !
GOVERNOR (furiously) . What do you mean ? How do you dare to call him neither the one nor the other, nor the devil knows what? I'll put you under arrest—!
POSTMASTER. Who ? You ?
GOVERNOR. Yes— I will !
POSTMASTER. Pooh ! That's beyond your power !
GOVERNOR. Are you aware that he is going to marry my daughter ? that I shall become a grandee? that I shall have power to send to Siberia ?
POSTMASTER. Eh, Anton Antonovich—Siberia ? that's a long way off. . . . But I had better read you the letter. ”

“ ANNA. Anything rude like that just pleases you. But you really must remember that we shall have to live a quite different kind of life—it won't do for you to know any of your dog-fancier judges, whom you go hare-hunting with, or people like Zemlyanika; on the contrary, your acquaintances will be persons of distinction—counts and fashionables, all of them . . . only I'm anxious about you : you will go and let out some expression or other, which is never heard in polite society.
GOVERNOR. Well, what of that—a word doesn't hurt !
ANNA. No, perhaps not, when you're only a town-governor ”

“ Damned liberals ! Devil's brood ! I would scrag you all, I'd grind you to powder ! You'd be a dish for the foul fiend, and the devil's cap your resting-place ! (Shakes his fist and grinds his heel on the ground. Then, after a short silence :) I can't collect myself yet. It's true, that if God will punish a man, he first drives him mad. To be sure, what was there like a Revizor in that crack-brained trifler ? Nothing at all ! Not the resemblance of half a little finger—and all of them shout at once : the Revizor, the Revizor ! Who was it then who first gave out he was the Revizor ? ”

“ And be sure to let 'em all know, from me, what an honour Heaven has sent the Governor ; he's going to marry his daughter, not to a nobody, but to a man whose equal the world's never seen, who can accomplish everything—everything—everything ! Make them all understand that ! Shout it in every one's ears, ring the bells—devil take it ! Now's my triumph, and triumph I will ! (The POLICE-OFFICER goes out.) Now, Anna Andreyevna, what d'you think—eh ? Things being as they are, where shall we take up our abode—here, or in " Peter " ?
ANNA. Oh, in Petersburg, of course. How could we remain here ? ”

“ Are we to believe the report, Anton Antonovich ? Has an extraordinary piece of good fortune befallen you ?
CHARITY COMMISSIONER. I have the honour to congratulate you [10] on your extraordinary good fortune ! I was heartily pleased when I heard of it! (Kisses ANNA'S hand.) Anna Andreyevna! (Kisses MARYA's.) Marya Antonovna !
RASTAKOVSKl (entering) . I congratulate Anton Antonovich ! May the Lord grant long life to you and the bridal pair, and bless you with grandchildren and great-grand-children, and many descendants to succeed you ! Anna Andreyevna ! (Kisses her hand) Marya Antonovna ! ”

“ And the side you put on ! [7] He's a merchant—don't you touch him ! "We don't rank after gentle folks," say you—but gentlemen have had an education, you ape ! I daresay they are flogged at school—otherwise they'd learn nothing. ”