Little Poems in Prose

I looked sharply into his eyes, and was as- tounded to see that they shone with the lustre of incontestable sincerity. Then I saw clearly how it was; he had wished to combine philan- thropy and business, to gain a florin and God’s heart; to acquire Heaven at a bargain-counter and the title of philanthropist free of charge. I could almost have pardoned him the criminal enjoyment of which I had just supposed him capable; I should have found it curious, singu- lar, that he should amuse himself by placing a poor man in a false position; but I will never pardon him the stupidity of his calculation. It is never excusable to be wicked, but there is some merit in knowing that one is so; and the most irreparable vice is to do evil by stupidity.