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If I were to be made a knight,” said the Wart, staring dreamily into the fire, “I should … pray to God to let me encounter all the evil in the world in my own person, so that if I conquered there would be none left, and, if I were defeated, I would be the one to suffer for it.” “That would be extremely presumptuous of you,” said Merlin, “and you would be conquered, and you would suffer for it.” T. H. White, The Sword in the Stone
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