As the caterpillar chooses the fairest leaves to her eggs on, so the priest lays his curse on the fairest joys. - Orson Scott Card

“This is today’s puzzle,” he said. “If the act of denial can be taken as proof of the crime, how can an innocent man defend himself?” The tithingmen caught him by the arms. “Come along now, Mr. Emerson, and don’t go trying any philosophy on us.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it,” said Waldo. “Philosophy would be wasted against such sturdy-headed men as you.”
“Glad you know it,” said the tithingman proudly. “Wouldn’t want you thinking we weren’t true Christians.”

My hands are clean, but not because I wasn't prepared to bloody them.

Boys always argued as if they knew then had the forces of logic on their side, even when they were being completely irrational.