In the phantom tollbooth act 1 the lethargarians say milo is just like them milo asks the lethargarians what they do. one of them says: anything as long as its nothing and everything as long as it isn't anything what does this peice of dialogue tell you about

Atraffic cop has pulled over a speeder, only to discover that he has stopped a close friend. the police officer is torn, because his professional obligations demand that he punish the speeder, but his personal obligations suggest that he should give a friend a break. what is this called?