The Tell-Tale Heart

have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over acuteness of the senses?

Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in!

. Madmen know nothing.

would a madman have been so wise as this?

All in vain; because Death, in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim.

Almighty God! –no, no! They heard! –they suspected! –they knew! –they were making a mockery of my horror! –this I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! –and now –again! –hark! louder! louder! louder! louder! –

I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph

I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him

it was this! He had the eye of a vulture –a pale blue eye, with a film over it

Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded