"You know it is not my interest to pay the principal, or my principal to pay the interest"

This quote by Richard Brinsley Sheridan is a funny way of expressing the concept that it is not in his best interest to repay a loan or debt. He is suggesting that he would rather not repay the principal, or the quantity of cash he obtained, which he would rather not pay the interest, or the extra cash he owes for borrowing the cash. This quote is a clever method of expressing the idea that he would rather not pay back the money he owes. It is likewise a suggestion that when obtaining money, there are repercussions and that it is very important to repay the money one owes.