The Nose

FARCE really does occur in this world, and, sometimes, farce altogether without an element of probability.

You had better remain as you are rather than go farther and fare worse.

But nothing lasts long in this world. Even joy grows less lively the next moment. And a moment later, again, it weakens further. And at last it remerges insensibly with the normal mood, even as the ripple from a pebble's impact becomes remerged with the smooth surface of the water at large.