“If you have been yourself you cannot reasonably be punished, but if you have been somebody else you will find that this is not permitted.”

— James Branch Cabell, book Figures of Earth

Source: Figures of Earth (1921), Ch. XL : Colophon: Da Capo
Context: "Now we must ford these shadowy waters," said Grandfather Death, "in part because your destiny is on the other side, and in part because by the contact of these waters all your memories will be washed away from you. And that is requisite to your destiny."
"But what is my destiny?"
"It is that of all loving creatures, Count Manuel. If you have been yourself you cannot reasonably be punished, but if you have been somebody else you will find that this is not permitted."
"That is a dark saying, only too well suited to this doubtful place, and I do not understand you."
"No," replied Grandfather Death, "but that does not matter."

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

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James Branch Cabell130

American author 1879–1958

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James Branch Cabell130

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