Excuses
Excuses [1]
Bishop W: , we are told, was one day rebuking one of his clergy for foxhunting. 'My lord,' was the clergyman's answer, 'every man must have some relaxation. I assure you I never go to balls.' 'Oh,' said the bishop, 'I perceive you allude to my having been to the Duchess of S: 's party, but I give you my word that I was never in the same room with the dancers!' 'My lord,' responded the clergy man, 'my horse and I are getting old, and we are never in the same field with the hounds.' Thus each had satisfied his conscience, because of some point beyond which he had not gone. What he had done was to be overlooked on account of what he had not done. The habit of making precisely similar excuses is all but universal; though we see the absurdity of it in others we continue to practise it ourselves.
