What is offense?

Famous quotes containing the word offense:

    When offense occurred, Slaughter took the trail, and seldom returned with a live prisoner. Usually he reported that he had chased the suspect “clean out of the county”; these suspects never reappeared in Tombstone—or anywhere else.
    —Administration in the State of Ariz, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)

    O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven,
    It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t,
    A brother’s murder.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven;
    It hath the primal eldest curse upon ‘t,
    A brother’s murder. Pray can I not,
    Though inclination be as sharp as will;
    My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,
    And like a man to double business bound
    I stand in pause where I shall first begin,
    And both neglect. What if this cursed hand
    Were thicker than itself with brother’s blood,
    Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens
    To wash it white as snow?
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)