Confession is always weakness. The grave soul keeps its own secrets, and takes its own punishment in silence.

Confession is always weakness. The grave soul keeps its own secrets, and takes its own punishment in silence.

Confession is good for the soul only in the sense that a tweed coat is good for dandruff--it is a read more

Confession is good for the soul only in the sense that a tweed coat is good for dandruff--it is a palliative rather than a remedy.

Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin;
For to deny each article with oath
Cannot remove nor read more

Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin;
For to deny each article with oath
Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception
That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.

A man's very highest moment is, I have no doubt at all, when he kneels in the dust, and beats read more

A man's very highest moment is, I have no doubt at all, when he kneels in the dust, and beats his breast, and tells all the sins of his life.

Nothing spoils a confession like repentance.

Nothing spoils a confession like repentance.

It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution

It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution

Nor do we find him forward to be sounded,
But with a crafty madness keeps aloof
When read more

Nor do we find him forward to be sounded,
But with a crafty madness keeps aloof
When we would bring him on to some confession
Of his true state.

Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.

Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.

Faith is confirmed by the heart, confessed by the tongue, and acted upon by the body

Faith is confirmed by the heart, confessed by the tongue, and acted upon by the body