Innocence

Innocence in genius, and candor in power, are both noble qualities. ~ Anne Louise Germaine de Staël

In vain do they think themselves innocent who appropriate to their own use alone those goods which God gave in common; by not giving to others that which they themselves receive, they become homicides and murderers, inasmuch as in keeping for themselves those things which would alleviate the sufferings of the poor, we may say that every day they cause the death of as many persons as they might have fed and did not. When, therefore, we offer the means of living to the indigent, we do not give them anything of ours, but that which of right belongs to them. It is less a work of mercy which we perform than the payment of a debt. ~ Gregory the Great

Innocence is a term that describes the lack of guilt of an individual, with respect to a crime. It may also be used to indicate a general lack of guilt, with respect to any kind of crime, sin, or wrongdoing.

Quotes

• I'm innocent in my head, like a baby born dead.
  • 50 Cent, "Patiently Waiting" (2003), Get Rich or Die Tryin‍'‍, New York City: Shady Records

• Every life is a march from innocence, through temptation, to virtue or vice.
  • Lyman Abbott, quoted in The Seven Powerful Secrets of Emotional Sex‎ (2005) by A. Vishwanath, p. 144.

• Summer has come and passed
  The innocent can never last.
  • Billy J. Armstrong, "Wake Me Up When September Ends" (2004), American Idiot

• Innocence once lost can never be regained.
  • James Frame, in Original Sin (1853).

• Innocence most often is a good fortune and not a virtue.
  • Anatole France, in Les Dieux Ont Soif [The Gods Are Thirsty] (1912), Chapter XV.

• There is a vast difference between innocence and stupidity.
  • Esther Friesner, Harlot’s Ruse, (1986) ISBN 0-445-20208-4, p. 23

• In vain do they think themselves innocent who appropriate to their own use alone those goods which God gave in common; by not giving to others that which they themselves receive, they become homicides and murderers, inasmuch as in keeping for themselves those things which would alleviate the sufferings of the poor, we may say that every day they cause the death of as many persons as they might have fed and did not. When, therefore, we offer the means of living to the indigent, we do not give them anything of ours, but that which of right belongs to them. It is less a work of mercy which we perform than the payment of a debt.
  • Gregory the Great, quoted in George D. Herron, Between Caesar and Jesus (1899), pp. 111-112.

• That's what it takes to be a hero, a little gem of innocence inside you that makes you want to believe that there still exists a right and wrong, that decency will somehow triumph in the end.
  • Lise Hand, quoted in The Truth in Words : Inspiring Quotes for the Reflective Mind (2002) by Paras, p. 107.

• I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
  • Jesus Christ in Matthew 10:16 (NIV).

• Innocence once lost, is lost forever.
  • John Kitts, "The Unreasonableness of Human Merit", The Primitive Church Magazine (1849).

• Assuredly we bring not innocence into the world, we bring impurity much rather: that which purifies us is trial, and trial is by what is contrary.
  • John Milton, Areopagitica (1644).

• Of what is great one must either be silent or speak with greatness. With greatness — that means cynically and with innocence.
  • Friedrich Nietzsche, The Will to Power, Preface (1888).

• I want to assure you that regardless of your circumstances, age, or sex, you can indeed start over, re-arousing from within yourself those earlier, more innocent expectations, feelings and beliefs. It is much better if you can imagine this endeavor more in the light of children’s play, in fact, rather than think of it as a deadly serious adult pursuit.
  • Jane Roberts in The Way Toward Health, p. 249.

• Resentment seems to have been given us by nature for a defense, and for a defense only. It is the safeguard of justice and the security of innocence.
  • Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) Sect. II : Of Justice and Beneficence, Chapter 2.

• "Innocent people"? Nonsense! There's no such thing as an innocent person. We've all got a blemish or two in our hearts.
  • Shi-Long Lang, Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth (2010)

• Innocence in genius, and candor in power, are both noble qualities.
  • Anne Louise Germaine de Staël, On Germany (1813), Part II, Chapter VIII.

• Through our own recovered innocence we discern the innocence of our neighbors.
  • Henry David Thoreau, Walden (1854) Ch XVII : Spring.

• A story of innocence in a world of ignorance.
  • Tag line of "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas".

Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations

Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 395-96.

• To see a world in a grain of sand,
  And a heaven in a wild flower:
  Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
  And eternity in an hour.
  • William Blake, Auguries of Innocence.

• E'en drunken Andrew felt the blow
  That innocence can give,
  When its resistless accents flow
  To bid affection live.
  • Robert Bloomfield, The Drunken Father, Stanza 18.

• O mon Dieu, conserve-moi innocente, donne la grandeur aux autres!
  O God, keep me innocent; make others great!
  • Caroline Matilda, scratched on a window of the Castle Fredericksburg, Denmark.

• As innocent as a new-laid egg.
  • W. S. Gilbert, Engaged, Act I.

• An age that melts with unperceiv'd decay,
  And glides in modest innocence away.
  • Samuel Johnson, Vanity of Human Wishes, line 293.

• On devient innocent quand on est malheureux.
  • Translated: We become innocent when we are unfortunate.
  • Jean de La Fontaine, Nymphes de Vaux.

• What can innocence hope for,
  When such as sit her judges are corrupted!
  • Philip Massinger, The Maid of Honour, (c. 1621; printed 1632), Act V, scene 2.

• He's armed without that's innocent within.
  • Alexander Pope, Epistles of Horace, Epistle I, Book I, line 93.

• Mais l'innocence enfin n'a rien à redouter.
  • Translated: But innocence has nothing to dread.
  • Jean Racine, Phèdre, III. 6.

• Quam angusta innocentia est, ad legem bonum esse.
  • Translated: What narrow innocence it is for one to be good only according to the law.
  • Seneca the Younger, De Ira, II. 27.

• O, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence,
  Love takes the meaning in love's conference.
  • William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream (c. 1595-96), Act II, scene 2, line 45.

• Hence, bashful cunning!
  And prompt me, plain and holy innocence!
  • William Shakespeare, The Tempest (c. 1610-1612), Act III, scene 1, line 81.

• We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' the sun,
  And bleat the one at the other; what we chang'd
  Was innocence for innocence; we knew not
  The doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'd
  That any did.
  • William Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale (c. 1610-11), Act I, scene 2, line 67.

• I doubt not then but innocence shall make
  False accusation blush, and tyranny
  Tremble at patience.
  • William Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale (c. 1610-11), Act III, scene 2, line 31.

• O, white innocence,
  That thou shouldst wear the mask of guilt to hide
  Thine awful and serenest countenance
  From those who know thee not!
  • Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Cenci (1819), Act V, scene 3, line 24.

See also

• Guilt
• Purity
• Sin