Radulfus had the wise man’s distant respect for perfection, but no great expectation of meeting it in the way.

Ellis Peters (1913-1995) English writer, translator [pseud. of Edith Mary Pargeter, who also wrote under the names John Redfern, Jolyon Carr, Peter Benedict]

Brother Cadfael’s Penance, ch. 1 (1994)
    (Source)