Thechiefbusinessofmylifehasalwaysbeentoindulgemysenses；I
neverknewanythingofgreaterimportance。Ifeltmyselfbornforthefairsex，Ihaveeverloveditdearly，andIhavebeenlovedbyitasoftenandasmuchasIcould。Ihavelikewisealwayshadagreatweaknessforgoodliving，andIeverfeltpassionatelyfondofeveryobjectwhichexcitedmycuriosity。
Ihavehadfriendswhohaveactedkindlytowardsme，andithasbeenmygoodfortunetohaveitinmypowertogivethemsubstantialproofsofmygratitude。Ihavehadalsobitterenemieswhohavepersecutedme，andwhomIhavenotcrushedsimplybecauseIcouldnotdoit。Ineverwouldhaveforgiventhem，hadInotlostthememoryofalltheinjuriestheyhadheapeduponme。Themanwhoforgetsdoesnotforgive，heonlylosestheremembranceoftheharminflictedonhim；forgivenessistheoffspringofafeelingofheroism，ofanobleheart，ofagenerousmind，whilstforgetfulnessisonlytheresultofaweakmemory，orofaneasycarelessness，andstilloftenerofanaturaldesireforcalmandquietness。Hatred，inthecourseoftime，killstheunhappywretchwhodelightsinnursingitinhisbosom。
Shouldanyonebringagainstmeanaccusationofsensualityhewouldbewrong，forallthefiercenessofmysensesnevercausedmetoneglectanyofmyduties。Forthesameexcellentreason，theaccusationofdrunkennessoughtnottohavebeenbroughtagainstHomer:
’LaudibusarguiturvinivinosusHomerus。’