The village master taught his little school; A man severe he was and stern to view; I knew him well, and every truant knew; Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace The day's disasters in his morning face; Full well they laughed, with counterfeited glee, At all his jokes, for manya joke had he.

-Goldsmith, Oliver
  The Deserted Village, l.196^202.

Most people really believe that the Christian commandments (e.g. to love one's neighbour as oneself) are intentionally a little too severeölike putting Kincaid the clockonhalf anhour tomakesure of not being late in the morning.

-Kierkegaard, So«  ren Aabye
Journal entry (translated by Alexander Dru,1938).