"You are quite classical in your speech this morning.

Where learnt you the history of Hercules--you who have never seen the inside of a university ?" "You forget, brother Karl, that you yourself have been my instructor in these classical themes, as you call them.

Though I must tell you that, with the exception of their occasionally lending a little ornament to my speech, I have derived not the slightest advantage from them; nor is it likely I ever shall." "Well, Caspar," answered the botanist, "I am not going to stand up for the classics, as you are well aware.

Although I have taught you a little of their lore, it was when I had nothing to do, and you were equally idle; otherwise I should have considered that both of us were wasting time.

You already know my opinions on that subject--which are: that a knowledge of what is usually termed `the classics' is of about as much use to a reasoning man as might be an equally profound knowledge of Chinese _mnemonics_.