However boldly their warm blood was spilt,
Their life was shame, their epitaph was guilt;
And this read more

However boldly their warm blood was spilt,
Their life was shame, their epitaph was guilt;
And this they knew and felt, at least the one,
The leader of the hand he had undone,--
Who, born for better things, had madly set
His life upon a cast, which linger'd yet.

Confession is good for the soul only in the sense that a tweed coat is good for dandruff--it is a read more

Confession is good for the soul only in the sense that a tweed coat is good for dandruff--it is a palliative rather than a remedy.

Faith is confirmed by the heart, confessed by the tongue, and acted upon by the body

Faith is confirmed by the heart, confessed by the tongue, and acted upon by the body

Men's minds are too ready to excuse guilt in themselves.

Men's minds are too ready to excuse guilt in themselves.

A man's very highest moment is, I have no doubt at all, when he kneels in the dust, and beats read more

A man's very highest moment is, I have no doubt at all, when he kneels in the dust, and beats his breast, and tells all the sins of his life.

Nor do we find him forward to be sounded,
But with a crafty madness keeps aloof
When read more

Nor do we find him forward to be sounded,
But with a crafty madness keeps aloof
When we would bring him on to some confession
Of his true state.

Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.

Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.

Neither side is guiltless if its adversary is appointed judge.
[Lat., Nulla manus belli, mutato judice, pura est.]

Neither side is guiltless if its adversary is appointed judge.
[Lat., Nulla manus belli, mutato judice, pura est.]

Guilt is anger directed at ourselves.

Guilt is anger directed at ourselves.