all the several ways of beginning a book

'The thing is this.

That of the all the several ways of beginning a book which are now in practice throughout the known world, I am confident my own way of doing it is the best'I'm sure it is the most religious'for I begin with writing the first sentence'and trusting to Almighty God for the second.'

'Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vol 8, 1765.