Suppose I like a food that is poison to other people, and yet quickens me; how dare they punish me for eating of it ?" "They would say," I replied, "that they only punish you for inducing others to eat it." He broke in: "It is all ignorant prejudice, Frank; the world is slowly growing more tolerant and one day men will be ashamed of their barbarous treatment of me, as they are now ashamed of the torturings of the Middle Ages.

The current of opinion is making in our favour and not against us." "You don't believe what you say," I cried; "if you really thought humanity was going your way, you would have been delighted to play Galileo.

Instead of writing a book in prison condemning your companion who pushed you to discovery and disgrace, you would have written a book vindicating your actions.

'I am a martyr,' you would have cried, 'and not a criminal, and everyone who holds the contrary is wrong.' "You would have said to the jury: "'In spite of your beliefs, and your cherished dogmas; in spite of your religion and prejudice and fanatical hatred of me, you are wrong and I am right: the world does move.' "But you didn't say that, and you don't think it.

If you did you would be glad you went into the Queensberry trial, glad you were accused, glad you were imprisoned and punished because all these things must bring your vindication more quickly; you are sorry for them all, because in your heart you know you were wrong.