Almost every desire a poor man has is a punishable offence.
Louis-Ferdinand Celine

An honest man speaks the truth, though it may give offence; a vain man, in order that it may.
William Hazlitt

How shall I lose the sin, yet keep the sense, and love the offender, yet detest the offence?
Alexander Pope

I fear a permanent Confederation will never be settled; tho the most material articles are I think got thro', so as to give great offence to some, but to my Satisfaction.
William Whipple

I find that to be a fool as to worldly wisdom, and to commit my cause to God, not fearing to offend men, who take offence at the simplicity of truth, is the only way to remain unmoved at the sentiments of others.
John Woolman

I have the conviction that excessive literary production is a social offence.
George Eliot

I think a bishop who doesn't give offence to anyone is probably not a good bishop.
James Thomson

I'm a great dog fanatic. My own dog died a little while ago and I take it very personally when things die - it's a major offence.
Clive Barker

No man lives without jostling and being jostled; in all ways he has to elbow himself through the world, giving and receiving offence.
Thomas Carlyle

The theologian considers sin mainly as an offence against God; the moral philosopher as contrary to reasonableness.
Thomas Aquinas

'Tis easier for the generous to forgive, than for offence to ask it.
James Thomson

When I was in my 20s it did occur to me that there was something perverted about an attitude that thought that killing somebody was a minor offence compared to kissing somebody.
John McGahern