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		<title>Watterson, Bill -- Calvin and Hobbes (1990-10-18)</title>
		<link>https://wist.info/watterson-bill/83114/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:02:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Watterson, Bill]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[CALVIN: Hobbes, do you think our morality is defined by our actions, or by what&#8217;s in our hearts? HOBBES: I think our actions show what&#8217;s in our hearts. CALVIN: (after consideration) I resent that!]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="hangingindent">CALVIN: Hobbes, do you think our morality is defined by our actions, or by what&#8217;s in our hearts? </p>
<p class="hangingindent">HOBBES: I think our actions <i>show</i> what&#8217;s in our hearts. </p>
<p class="hangingindent">CALVIN: <i>(after consideration)</i> <b><i>I resent that!</i></b></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://wist.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/calvin-hobbes-1990-10-18.gif"><img data-dominant-color="d5d6d5" data-has-transparency="false" style="--dominant-color: #d5d6d5;" fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://wist.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/calvin-hobbes-1990-10-18.gif" alt="calvin &amp; hobbes 1990-10-18" width="600" height="189" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-83117 not-transparent" /></a></p>
<br><b>Bill Watterson</b> (b. 1958) American cartoonist<br><i>Calvin and Hobbes</i> (1990-10-18) 
									<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(<a href="http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1993/06/01" target="_blank">Source</a>)
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		<title>Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1743 ed.)</title>
		<link>https://wist.info/franklin-benjamin/80857/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:57:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Franklin, Benjamin]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[’Tis easy to frame a good bold resolution; But hard is the Task that concerns execution.]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>’Tis easy to frame a good bold resolution;<br />
But hard is the Task that concerns execution.</p>
<br><b>Benjamin Franklin</b> (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist<br><i>Poor Richard</i> (1743 ed.) 
									<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(<a href="https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-02-02-0089#:~:text=%E2%80%99Tis%20easy%20to,that%20concerns%20execution." target="_blank">Source</a>)
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		<title>Moliere -- Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L&#8217;Imposteur], Act 4, sc. 5 (1669) [tr. Wilbur (1963)]</title>
		<link>https://wist.info/moliere/65413/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Dec 2023 22:59:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Moliere]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[TARTUFFE: Some joys, it&#8217;s true, are wrong in Heaven&#8217;s eyes; Yet Heaven is not averse to compromise; There is a science, lately formulated. Whereby one&#8217;s conscience may be liberated, And any wrongful act you care to mention May be redeemed by purity of intention. I&#8217;ll teach you. Madam, the secrets of that science; Meanwhile, just [&#8230;]]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="hangingindent">TARTUFFE: Some joys, it&#8217;s true, are wrong in Heaven&#8217;s eyes;<br />
Yet Heaven is not averse to compromise;<br />
There is a science, lately formulated.<br />
Whereby one&#8217;s conscience may be liberated,<br />
And any wrongful act you care to mention<br />
May be redeemed by purity of intention.<br />
I&#8217;ll teach you. Madam, the secrets of that science;<br />
Meanwhile, just place on me your full reliance.<br />
Assuage my keen desires, and feel no dread:<br />
The sin, if any, shall be on my head.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em>[Le ciel défend, de vrai, certains contentements;<br />
Mais on trouve avec lui des accommodements.<br />
Selon divers besoins, il est une science<br />
D’étendre les liens de notre conscience,<br />
Et de rectifier le mal de l’action<br />
Avec la pureté de notre intention.<br />
De ces secrets, madame, on saura vous instruire ;<br />
Vous n’avez seulement qu’à vous laisser conduire.<br />
Contentez mon désir, et n’ayez point d’effroi ;<br />
Je vous réponds de tout, et prends le mal sur moi.]</em></p>
<br><b>Molière</b> (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]<br><i>Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L&#8217;Imposteur]</i>, Act 4, sc. 5 (1669) [tr. Wilbur (1963)] 
									<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(<a href="https://archive.org/details/misanthropetartu00moli/page/288/mode/2up?q=%22some+joys%22" target="_blank">Source</a>)
										<br><br><span class="cite">
						

The pious fraud, Tartuffe, attempting to seduce Orgon's wife, Elmire. Moliere does a certain amount of CYA by inserts a note at this line, "A scoundrel is speaking <i>[C’est un scélérat qui parle.]"</i><br><br>

The passage mirrors Pascal's assertion in the seventh <i>Provinciale</i> that "When we cannot prevent the action, we at least purify the intention' and thus we correct vice by means of the purity of the end."<br><br>

(<a href="https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Tartuffe_ou_l%E2%80%99Imposteur/%C3%89dition_Louandre,_1910/Acte_IV#cite_ref-6:~:text=Le%20ciel%20d%C3%A9fend,mal%20sur%20moi.">Source (French)</a>). Alternate translations:<br><br>



<blockquote>Heav'n 'tis true, forbids certain Gratifications. But then there are ways of compounding those Matters. It is a Science to stretch the Strings of Conscience according to the different Exigences of the Cawe, and to rectify the Immorality of the Action by the Purity of our Intention. These are Secrets, Madam, I can instruct you in; you have nothing to do, but passively to be conducted. Satisfy my Desire, and fear nothing, I'll answer for you, and will take the Sin upon myself.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Works_of_Moliere/6GEzAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22forbids%20certain%22">Clitandre</a> (1672)]</blockquote><br>



<blockquote>Heaven, it is true, forbids certain gratifications, but there are ways and means of compounding such matters. According to our different wants, there is a science which loosens that which binds our conscience, and which rectifies the evil of the act with the purity of our intentions. We shall be able to initiate you into these secrets, Madam; you have only to be led by me. Satisfy my desires, and have no fear; I shall be answerable for everything, and shall take the sin upon myself.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/dramaticworksofm04moliiala/dramaticworksofm04moliiala/page/146/mode/2up?view=theater&q=%22forbids+certain%22">Van Laun</a> (c. 1870), 4.5]</blockquote><br>



<blockquote>It is true that Heaven forbids certain gratifications, but there are means of compounding with it upon such matters., and of rectifying the evil fo the act by the purity of the intention. We shall be able to initiate you into all those secrets, madam; all you have to do is to suffer yourself to be led by me. Satisfy my wishes, and be without fear. I will be answerable for everything and take the sin upon myself.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Dramatic_Works_of_Moli%C3%A8re_The_force/9KRiy5RyJ-cC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22purity%20of%20the%20intention%22">Wall</a> (1879), 4.5]</blockquote><br>



<blockquote>Heaven, it is true, forbids certain gratifications; but there are ways of compounding these matters. There is a science of stretching the strings of our conscience, according to different exigencies, and of rectifying the wrongness of the action by the purity of our intention. In these secrets, madame, I know how to instruct you, and all you have to do is to let me guide you. Satisfy my wishes, madame, and have no fear. I will answer for you, and take any wrong on myself. <br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/comedies00molirich/page/470/mode/2up?view=theater&q=%22heaven%2C+it+is+true%22">Mathew</a> (1890), 4.4]</blockquote><br>





<blockquote>Heaven, it is true, forbids certain gratifications; but there are ways of compounding with it. It is a science to stretch the string of our conscience according to divers needs and to rectify the immorality of the act with the purity of our intention. I can initiate you into these secrets, Madam; you have only to allow yourself to be led. Satisfy my desire, and do not be afraid: I will be answerable for you in everything, and I will take the sin upon myself.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Plays_of_Moli%C3%A8re_in_French/ry1zVvUyoCgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=compounding">Waller</a> (1903), 4.5]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>Heaven forbids, 't is true, some satisfactions;<br>
But we find means to make things right with Heaven.<br>
There is a science, madam, that instructs us<br>
How to enlarge the limits of our conscience<br>
According to our various occasions,<br>
And rectify the evil of the deed<br>
According to our purity of motive.<br>
I'll duly teach you all these secrets, madam;<br>
You only need to let yourself be guided.<br>
Content my wishes, have no fear at all;<br>
I answer for't, and take the sin upon me.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Tartuffe_or_the_Hypocrite#cite_ref-5:~:text=Heaven%20forbids%2C%20%27tis,sin%20upon%20me.">Page</a> (1909), 4.5]</blockquote><br>

<blockquote>It's true that heaven forbids some satisfactions,<br>
But there are possible ways to understandings.<br>
To suit our various needs, there is a science<br>
Of loosening the bonds of human conscience, <br>
And rectifying the evil of an action<br>
By means of the purity of our intention.<br>
Madame, I shall instruct you in these secrets,<br>
If you will put your confidence in me.<br>
Content my longings, do not be afraid; <br>
All the responsibility is mine ...<br>
[tr. <a href="https://archive.org/details/eightplaysbymoli00moli/page/204/mode/2up?view=theater&q=%22heaven+forbids%22">Bishop</a> (1957)]</blockquote><br>



<blockquote>It's true, there are some pleasures Heaven denies;<br>
But there are ways to reach a compromise.<br>
Yes, now there is a science that succeeds <br>
In stretching consciences to meet our needs, <br>
And can correct, by a sublime invention, <br>
An evil deed just by a pure intention. <br>
To all this there are keys I can provide you; <br>
All you need do, Madame, is let me guide you. <br>
Content my longings, free yourself of dread: <br>
If there is sin, I’ll take it on my head. <br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Tartuffe_and_Other_Plays/Gxx0BQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22it%27s%20true%20there%20are%22">Frame</a> (1967), 4.5]</blockquote><br> 



<blockquote>It's true that Heaven forbids certain pleasures,<br>
but it's possible to make bargains.<br>
Depending on what's needed, <br>
there are ways to accommodate our consciences<br>
and to justify bad acts<br>
by the purity of our intentions.<br>
I can be your teacher, Madame;<br>
you have only to let me be your guide.<br>
Satisfy my desire; never fear,<br>
I'll answer for it all and take you sin on.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Tartuffe/p8pgDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22it%27s%20true%20that%20heaven%22">Steiner</a> (2008), 4.5]</blockquote><br>



<blockquote>Heaven forbids certain pleasures, in theory;<br>
But one can always get round that;<br>
According to requirement, it is a science<br>
To stretch the limits of our conscience<br>
And to balance out the evil of the deed<br>
With the purity of the intention.<br>
Nothing simpler, My Lady, than to instruct you in these mysteries;<br>
You need only let yourself be led.<br>
Give me what I want and have no fear:<br>
I'll take the sin upon myself.<br>
[tr. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Tartuffe/HZ78DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=heaven%20forbids">Campbell</a> (2013)]</blockquote><br>




<blockquote>Heaven forbids, in truth, certain contentments;<br>
But we find with him accomodations;<br>
According to various needs, it is a science<br>
To extend the bonds of our consciousness<br>
And to rectify the evil of action <br>
With the purity of our intention.<br>
Of these secrets, Madam, we will know how to instruct you;<br>
You just have to let yourself be driven.<br>
Satisfy my desire, and have no fear:<br>
I answer you for everything, and take evil on me.<br>
[<a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Tartuffe/EsjDEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=heaven%20forbids%20in%20truth">Source</a>]</blockquote><br>



<blockquote>It's true Heaven forbids some pleasures, but a compromise can usually be found.<br>
[<a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Concise_Columbia_Dictionary_of_Quota/bs0J36MpieIC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Heaven+forbids+some+pleasures%22&pg=PA310&printsec=frontcover">E.g.</a>]</blockquote><br>
						</span>
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		<title>Wordsworth, William -- &#8220;Brave Schill! By Death Delivered, Take Thy Flight&#8221; (1809; pub. 1815)</title>
		<link>https://wist.info/wordsworth-william/37585/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Jul 2017 20:40:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Wordsworth, William]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[&#8230; a noble aim, Faithfully kept, is as a noble deed, In whose pure sight all virtue doth succeed. Sometimes misquoted &#8220;is a noble deed&#8221;.]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8230; a noble aim,<br />
Faithfully kept, is as a noble deed,<br />
In whose pure sight all virtue doth succeed. </p>
<br><b>William Wordsworth</b> (1770-1850) English poet<br>&#8220;Brave Schill! By Death Delivered, Take Thy Flight&#8221; (1809; pub. 1815) 
									<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/brave-schill-by-death-delivered/" target="_blank">Source</a>)
										<br><br><span class="cite">
						

Sometimes misquoted "is a noble deed".
						</span>
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		<title>Brandeis, Louis -- Olmstead v. United States, 277 US 438 (1928) [Dissent]</title>
		<link>https://wist.info/brandeis-louis/948/</link>
		<comments>https://wist.info/brandeis-louis/948/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Brandeis, Louis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beneficent]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government&#8217;s purposes are beneficial. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greater dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.]]></description>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government&#8217;s purposes are beneficial.  Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers.  The greater dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.</p>
<br><b>Louis Brandeis</b> (1856-1941) American lawyer, activist, Supreme Court Justice (1916-39)<br><i>Olmstead v. United States</i>, 277 US 438 (1928) [Dissent] 
									<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(<a href="http://supreme.justia.com/us/277/438/case.html" target="_blank">Source</a>)
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