Barry was born clever enough at gaining a fortune, but incapable of keeping one. For the qualities and energies which lead a man to triumph in the former case are often the very cause of his undoing in the latter.
More from Barry Lyndon
Narrator If he had murdered Lord Bullingdon, Barry could hardly be received with greater contempt and coldness than what now followed him in town and country...Now all the bills came down on him at once, with hasty abandon. Their amount was frightful, and Her Ladyship's income was hampered all but irretrievably to satisfy these claims.
Narrator If he had murdered Lord Bullingdon, Barry could hardly be received with greater contempt and coldness than what now followed him in town and country. His friends fell away from him. And a legend arose of his cruelty to his stepson.
Narrator It was in the reign of George III that the aforesaid personages lived and quarreled; Good or bad, handsome or ugly, rich or poor, they are all equal now.
Barry Lyndon
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All Barry Lyndon quotes →