HATHORNE: Now, Martha Corey, there is abundant evidence in our hands to show that you have given yourself to the reading of fortunes. Do you deny it?
MARTHA COREY: I am innocent to a witch. I know not what a witch is.
HATHORNE: How do you know then that you are not a witch?
MARTHA COREY: If I were, I would know it.
– Arthur Miller
The Crucible, Act 3. The unbending and closed-minded Judge Hathorne is not interested in hearing the case for the defense from the accused in the witch trials. Martha Corey protests that she doesn’t even know what a witch is. This is met by Hathorne asking how did she know she wasn’t one. Hathorne is an intolerant judge who makes up his mind that an individual is guilty and doesn’t allow anyone question his thinking.