“Veracity does not consist in saying, but in the intention of communicating truth.”

“Truth does not consist in minute accuracy of detail; but in conveying a right impression.”

“Conversations consist for the most part of things one does not say.”

“In fact we say that an intention is good, that is, right in itself, but that an action does not bear any good in itself but proceeds from a good intention.”
Bonam quippe intentionem, hoc est, rectam in se dicimus, operationem vero non quod boni aliquid in se suscipiat, sed quod ex bona intentione procedat. Unde et ab eodem homine cum in diversis temporibus idem fiat, pro diversitate tamen intentione eius operatio modo bono modo mala dicitur.

“My father was an absolutely wonderful human being. From him I learned to always assume positive intent. Whatever anybody says or does, assume positive intent.”

“Wisdom consists not only in knowing truths and being able to communicate them, but also in the sage’s capacity to recognize the most subtle limitations or hazards of human nature.”

“…the purpose of a picture is not veracity to fact so much as truthfulness to idea; that is to say, it is not a question of what eye sees nor even what the brain imagines, but it is a question of what kind of production best awakens in the mind of the beholder the ideas which the maker of the picture desires him to receive.”

“Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.”

“Intent is guilt. Failure to successfully carry out the intent does not absolve the guilt.”

“Courts of justice ought to carry into effect the intentions of testators as far as they can consistently with the rules of law.”