The man turned his blue eyes on July for a moment. 'Why, son, I'm fine,' he said. 'You're the one in trouble. I can see you carry a weight on your heart. You're hurrying along to do something you may not want to do. I see by your badge that you're a lawman. But the crimes the law can understand are not the worst crimes. I have often sinned worse than the murderer, and yet I try to live in virtue.
In this passage from "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry, an insightful conversation unfolds between two characters. The man, with blue eyes, expresses concern for July, recognizing the emotional burden he carries. He points out that July, as a lawman, is involved in a world of justice but warns that the most significant wrongdoings often lie beyond the reach of the law, indicating deeper moral complexities at play.
The man reflects on his own life, admitting to having committed greater sins than many criminals, yet striving for a life of virtue. This suggests a struggle with personal morality, hinting at the idea that societal laws do not encompass all forms of wrongdoing, and raises questions about the nature of justice and redemption in the pursuit of a virtuous life.
