Gilmore Hilton, the owner of an “If I don’t have it, then you don’t need it” store in Simplex Pond, never went to college; nevertheless, collegiates often asked him questions. He willingly gave help to those who had trouble in their first year in college. Emily Miller, the valedictorian of her high school class, received a “C-” on her first paper at Colby College. She was upset and turned to her hometown sage.

“Mr. Hilton, I am disturbed. Professor Alfred gave me a low grade on my very first essay. My subject was forgiveness and my thesis statement was from Alexander Pope, ‘To err is human; to forgive divine.’ It is always best to forgive because such an act is consecrated; it is revered. Please read my essay, and you will say that I should have received a very high grade.”

Gilmore read superficially the essay. I was enjoying my Moxie, and I had a hunch how the “Wizard of Simplex” would respond. My intuition was correct.

“Emily, the Romans had an expression, ‘Errare est humanum.’ Its translation: ‘To err is human.’ Alexander Pope added ‘to forgive divine.’ The Romans did not forgive; they simply killed the culprit. I believe Professor Alfred knows that not every evil act is forgivable. For example, if a salesperson lowers the grade of a door after the sale and before it is made at the factory, then that deceit has an impact today. If money is handed in a safety deposit box and not recorded in an interrogatory before a divorce, then that conduct has present ramifications. An adulterous affair has a black cloud over every intimacy between the married couple thereafter. Remember, it’s OK to forgive an act in the past if it has no impact on today.

“Remember the quotation from Lilla Cabot Perry: ‘Forgiveness finds its home in hearts at rest.’ This is true but only when morally reprehensible conduct is not ongoing. Now go home, rewrite this essay and show it to Professor Alfred. He will like it, and do not forget to quote Thomas H. Huxley ‘There is the greatest practical benefit in making a few failures early in life.’”