Lie on!' cried the usurer, 'with your iron tongue! Ring…
““Lie on!' cried the usurer, 'with your iron tongue! Ring merrily for births that make expectants writhe, and marriages that are made in hell, and toll ruefully for the dead whose shoes are worn already! Call men to prayers who are godly because not found out, and ring chimes for the coming in of every year that brings this cursed world nearer to it's end. No bell or book for me! Throw me on a dunghill, and let me rot there, to infect the air!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A satirical lament condemns religious hypocrisy and societal decay, using bell imagery.
In simple terms: Critique of false piety and moral corruption.
Key Takeaway
Question institutions that hide moral decay.
Themes
religion
hypocrisy
decay
satire
Mood
critical
somber
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- public discourse
- religious reform
- ethical education
Key Concepts
moral criticism
social commentary
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern institutions mirror this hypocrisy?
- How can sincere reform be distinguished from mockery?
A Different Perspective
Satire may alienate those who feel attacked.