is that not a lie, and perjury to boot?" "No," said the father; "Sanchez and Filiutius prove that it is not; for, says the latter, 'it is the intention that determines the quality of the action.' And he suggests a still surer method for avoiding falsehood, which is this: After saying aloud, 'I swear that I have not done that,' to add, in a low voice, 'to-day'; or after saying aloud, 'I swear,' to interpose in a whisper, 'that I say,' and then continue aloud, 'that I have done that.' This, you perceive, is telling the truth." "I grant it," said I; "it might possibly, however, be found to be telling the truth in a low key, and falsehood in a loud one; besides, I should be afraid that many people might not have sufficient presence of mind to avail themselves of these methods." "Our doctors," replied the Jesuit, "have taught, in the same passage, for the benefit of such as might not be expert in the use of these reservations, that no more is required of them, to avoid lying, than simply to say that 'they have not done' what they have done, provided 'they have, in general, the intention of giving to their language the sense which an able man would give to it.' Be candid, now, and confess if you have not often felt yourself embarrassed, in consequence of not knowing this?" "Sometimes," said I."And will you not also acknowledge,"continued he, "that it would often prove very convenient to be absolved in conscience from keeping certain engagements one may have made?" "The most convenient thing in the world!" I replied."Listen, then, to the general rule laid down by Escobar: 'Promises are not binding, when the person in ****** them had no intention to bind himself.Now, it seldom happens that any have such an intention, unless when they confirm their promises by an oath or contract; so that when one simply says, "I will do it," he means that he will do it if he does not change his mind; for he does not wish, by saying that, to deprive himself of his liberty.' He gives other rules in the same strain, which you may consult for yourself, and tells us, in conclusion, 'that all this is taken from Molina and our other authors, and is therefore settled beyond all doubt.'" "My dear father," I observed, "I had no idea that the direction of the intention possessed the power of rendering promises null and void." "You must perceive," returned he, "what facility this affords for prosecuting the business of life.But what has given us the most trouble has been to regulate the commerce between the ***es; our fathers being more chary in the matter of chastity.Not but that they have discussed questions of a very curious and very indulgent character, particularly in reference to married and betrothed persons."At this stage of the conversation I was made acquainted with the most extraordinary questions you can well imagine.He gave me enough of them to fill many letters; but, as you show my communications to all sorts of persons, and as I do not choose to be the vehicle of such reading to those who would make it the subject of diversion, I must decline even giving the quotations.
同类推荐
热门推荐
月出惊尘:宠溺绝世妃
她,白凤族中天赋卓绝的新生代,却被嫉恨她的人围攻致死!他,身世绝对神秘,来历绝对惊人,却横遭家族抛弃!从刚开始的弱者,一步步地成为世人眼中的妖孽。从一个弃子,迅速变成一个世人眼中神秘阁主。当二人碰撞,他们之间亦敌亦友,最终却挡不住时间的考验……X维X等于4
“我的一生有着众多的难言之隐。隐去的可能是错误,更多的是属于我内心的懦弱。每个懦弱由一个幌子掩饰,每一个错误对懦弱负责。我不断选择着不同的时间轴线,企图在广阔的时间平面内找到一个属于自我的最好时间点,并创造属于自我的无限希望。但,希望不是褒义词,它既可能成为坚强者的无限动力,也许会堕落成懦弱者的逃避慰藉。这或许对你只是个梦,只是个遥远的记忆,但这的确是某个四维的平行宇宙的另一个‘你’对你不知未来的三维个体的期望。这台空间曲率驱动飞船会将你带回你来时的那个虫洞,回到你的宇宙,你的世界。谢谢你让我体会到这份懦弱。请你选择坚强。我是四维的易籍。我即将成为某个五维宇宙的无止境黑洞。我选择了坚强,谢谢”