A lover thinks more often of how to reach his mistress than a husband thinks of guarding his wife; a prisoner thinks more often of escaping than the gaoler of locking his door; thus, whatever obstacles there may be, lovers and prisoners are almost sure to succeed.

Stendahl [Henri Marie Beyle], The Charterhouse of Parma, Chapter 19


Here Fabrizio is recalling one of father Blanès' maxims.

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