The Count of Monte Cristo

 

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I needed a big book to pass the time on a long plane ride. It was a big book. And it did pass the time in that I promptly fell asleep whenever I attempted to read it, which was actually almost better than reading on a plane ride. I have no idea why this book dragged so for me. There are intricate plans, lover's trysts, betrayal, revenge. Surprisingly little sword play. But the Count was just so-so for me and I never really could get invested. This classic seems to be referred to as a favorite with young men, so I thought it would be more intriguing than I found it to be.

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“We are always in a hurry to be happy, M. Danglars; for when we have suffered a long time, we have great difficulty in believing in good fortune.

was not over the downfall of the man, but over the defeat of the Napoleonic idea, that they rejoiced, and in this they foresaw for themselves the bright and cheering prospect of a revivified political existence.

The only difference consists in the opposite character of the equality advocated by these two men; one is the equality that elevates, the other is the equality that degrades; one brings a king within reach of the guillotine, the other elevates the people to a level with the throne.

You who are in power have only the means that money produces—we who are in expectation, have those which devotion prompts.”

But Fernand was mistaken; a man of his disposition never kills himself, for he constantly hopes.

Plaints made in common are almost prayers, and prayers where two or three are gathered together invoke the mercy of heaven.

misfortune is needed to bring to light the treasures of the human intellect. Compression is needed to explode gunpowder. Captivity has brought my mental faculties to a focus;

the tree forsakes not the flower—the flower falls from the tree.”

If one’s lot is cast among fools, it is necessary to study folly.

“the friends that we have lost do not repose in the bosom of the earth, but are buried deep in our hearts, and it has been thus ordained that we may always be accompanied by them.