- Mr. Shandy was a little like Job (assuming Job ever existed, Tristram says), in that his first impulse when something went wrong was to wish himself dead.
- He's quoting Socrates on the matter, who said something about his three children, when Mrs. Shandy misunderstands him: three children?" she says. "That's one more than I know about!"
- "No," Mr. Shandy says: "I have one less."