Would I do the first crooked thing again if I had my life to live over again, and knew a hundredth part of what I know now?
Would I put my hand in the fire out of laziness or greed?
or sit still and let a snake sting me, knowing I should be dead in twelve hours?
Any man's fool enough to do one that'll do the other.

Men and women don't know this in time, that's the worst of it; they won't believe half they're told by them that do know and wish 'em well.

They run on heedless and obstinate, too proud to take advice, till they do as we did.

The world's always been the same, I suppose, and will to the end.

Most of the books say so, anyway..