They were tempted, by an evil spirit of revenge, into an act unsanctioned even by their own bloody laws; and they gave him an opportunity of redeeming his fame, and of writing his name in the roll of martyrs.
The worth of a man must be measured by his life, not by his failure under a single and peculiar trial.

The Apostle, though forewarned, denied his Master on the first alarm of danger; yet that Master, who knew his nature in its strength and its infirmity, chose him for the rock on which He would build His Church." It used to be said of Ernest Renan that he was toniours seminariste, and there is a flavour of the pulpit in these beautiful sentences.
Beautiful indeed they are, and not more beautiful than true.

The implacable Mary, whose ghastly epithet clings to her for all time, like the shirt of Nessus, found in Pole an apt and zealous pupil in persecution.

Both are excellent specimens of their Church, because according to that Church they are absolutely blameless.

Punctilious in the discharge of all religious duties, they were chaste, sober, frugal, and honest.