A Pure Heart is Cute but...

A pure heart and an empty head are not enough. My Civil Procedure professor used this notion to explain why a lawyer's due diligence as a responsibility to his client is non-negotiable. Due diligence in life is also non-negotiable. In law, there is also a "pure heart and empty head" defense. It's a term of art used to describe a defendant, usually in a criminal case, who admits misconduct but seeks to avoid liability because he's/she's "honest but ignorant" - meaning there is not sufficient intent to commit the crime. We use this defense ad nauseum in life. Ad nauseum. But it has its own collateral damages that will show up eventually.

Some may see the phrase as cold and insensitive but that won't make it any less true. When we are in denial about it, we invite rude awakenings. It's better to accept it and change your mind about it.

I love the phrase because in life, just as in law, good intentions are sweet, but they don't pay the bills. It's a clarion call for personal excellence. I love it most because it's not a judgment, but an opportunity to grow and flourish and constantly expand our own limits.

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