Welcome to the Judge John Hodgman podcast. I'm Bail of Jesse Thorn. This week, Case

Sarah Sarah. Jillian brings the case against her friend Courtney. Sometimes Jillian will say that

something was meant to be. Courtney bristles at this idea. Jillian wants Courtney to just let her

believe what she wants. Courtney doesn't think that Jillian truly believes in destiny.

Who's right? Who's wrong? Only one can decide. Please rise as Judge John Hodgman enters the

courtroom and presents an obscure cultural reference. What is is and what might have been could never

have existed. Bail of Jesse Thorn, swear the men. Jillian and Courtney please rise and raise

your right hands. Do you swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help

you God or whatever? Yes. Yes. Do you swear to abide by Judge John Hodgman's ruling despite the fact

that he is destined to make a bad one? Yes, absolutely. You may proceed. Destined to make a real one,

that's for sure. You're destined to be a real one, Judge Hodgman. Some day the prophecy will come

true until then I remain until then I remain completely fake. False Hodgman. Faking internet Judge

Hodgman is in the court. You may be seated for an immediate summary judgment in one of your scabers.

Jillian Courtney can either of you name the piece of culture that I quoted directly as I entered

this courtroom. Let's see. Courtney, why don't you guess first? Okay. My guess is it is from the

E.M. Forrester novel Howard's and specifically the chapter where they're listening to Beethoven

and talking about panic and emptiness. Very specific. Yes. And absolutely correct. Well, I don't know.

We'll find out. That would be incredible. As I love a specific, very specific guest. What was

the Beethoven section? And that's the big dog, right? Let's drive in the family crazy.

That's what I figured. Jillian, what's your guess? I have no idea, but I prepare to guess. So here's

my guess. It's Rainer Maria Rilka's letters to a young poet. I love that specific guest too.

So I'm very special in my life gave me that book once and I think I read it. And I hope

...