They who, without any previous knowledge of us, think amiss of us, do us no harm: they attack not us, but the phantom of their own imagination. [ La Bruyere ]

This poor world, the object of so much insane attachment, we are about to leave; it is but misery, vanity, and folly; a phantom - the very fashion of which passeth away. [ Fenelon ]

However powerful one may be, whether one laughs or weeps, none can make thee speak, none can open thy hand before the time, O mute phantom, our shadow! specter always masked, ever at our side, called Tomorrow. [ Victor Hugo ]