Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice

“Why, it seemed to me I had lost the most of myself; and there was left only a brain which played with ideas, and a body that went delicately down pleasant ways. And I could not believe as my fellows believed, nor could I love them, nor could I detect anything in aught they said or did save their exceeding folly: for I had lost their cordial common faith of what use they made of half-hours and months and years... I had lost faith in the importance of my own actions, too. There was a little time of which the passing might be made endurable; beyond gaped unpredictable darkness: and that was all there was of certainty anywhere.””

— James Branch Cabell

“…nobody can live longer in peace than his neighbor chooses.””

— James Branch Cabell

“Now but before a fool's opinion of himself," the brown man cried, "the Gods are powerless. Oh, yes, and envious, too!””

— James Branch Cabell

“I think there is something in me which will endure. I am fettered by cowardice, I am enfeebled by disastrous memories; and I am maimed by old follies. Still, I seem to detect in myself something which is permanent and rather fine. Underneath everything, and in spite of everything, I really do seem to detect that something. What rôle that something is to enact after the death of my body, and upon what stage, I cannot guess. When fortune knocks I shall open the door.””

— James Branch Cabell

“I am looking for my wife, whom I suspect to have been carried off by a devil, poor fellow!””

— James Branch Cabell

“There is, moreover, a sign by which you may distinguish Thragnar. For if you deny what he says, he will promptly concede you are in the right. This was the curse put upon him by Miramon Lluagor, for a detection and a hindrance.” “By that unhuman trait,” says Jurgen, “ Thragnar ought to be very easy to distinguish.””

— James Branch Cabell

“Hah, all we poets write a deal about love: but none of us may grasp the word's full meaning until he reflects that this is a passion mighty enough to induce a woman to put up with him.””

— James Branch Cabell

“Well, nobody can live longer in peace than his neighbor chooses. Nevertheless, it is not fair.””

— James Branch Cabell

“Well, when in Rome," said Jurgen, "one must be romantic.””

— James Branch Cabell