But then I sigh, with a piece of Scripture Tell them that…
““But then I sigh, with a piece of Scripture Tell them that God bids us to do evil for good; And thus I clothe my naked villany With odd old ends stolen out of Holy Writ; And seem a saint, when most I play the devil.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A speaker pretends piety while committing wrongdoing, using scripture to mask evil.
In simple terms: Pretending to be holy while doing bad deeds.
Key Takeaway
Beware hypocrisy masked by religion.
Themes
hypocrisy
religion
morality
deception
Mood
cautionary
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political rhetoric
- legal arguments
- personal justification
Key Concepts
ethical double standards
masquerade
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you seen virtue used to hide vice?
- How does this affect trust?
A Different Perspective
Faith can be misused to legitimize immoral actions.