Musar for Bava Kamma 235:10
איתמר נמי א"ר חייא בר אבא א"ר יוחנן האומר לחבירו מנה לי בידך והלה אומר איני יודע חייב בבא לצאת ידי שמים:
but R. Nahman and R. Johanan say that he is exempt.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He would only have to swear to confirm his plea that he is not certain about it (Rashi). ');"><sup>15</sup></span> R. Huna and Rab Judah maintain that he is liable, because where a positive plea is met by an uncertain one, the positive plea prevails, but R. Nahman and R. Johanan say that he is exempt, since money [claimed] must remain in the possession of the holder.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the defendant. ');"><sup>16</sup></span>
Shenei Luchot HaBerit
I believe that in the many instances when the Talmud justifies certain rulings by the statement אדם חשוב שאני, that we apply different yardsticks to morally high-ranking people, the Talmud wants to emphasize that the law is different when applied to such people. It is not merely a voluntary abrogation of one's rights. When the Talmud speaks of "doing one's duty in the eyes of Heaven," however, it is something else again. Such considerations apply where for one reason or another the human tribunal is unable to enforce a certain ruling.
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