"I came here to ask you to be cruel to me--to tell me hard truths.

You know how to be cruel very well, Father Francis." "Why do you come to me for hard truths ?" said the priest, rather coldly.
"You have been deluding yourself all along; why don't you go on?
What is the use of telling you the truth?
You will do as you like in the end." "Perhaps not.

I have not fallen quite so low as you think.

I dare say you despise me, but you can hardly despise me more than I despise myself." "Then why walk on in the path that leads you downward?
Why not stop before it is too late ?" "It is too late now!" "Stuff and nonsense! That is more of your self-delusion.

You, or rather that pride of yours, which has been the great stumbling-block of your life, leads you on in that self-delusion.