--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That practis'd falsehood under saintly…" description: "\"That practis'd falsehood under saintly shew, Deep malice to conceal, couch'd with revenge.\" — John Milton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/john-milton-191_couches_that-practis-d-falsehood-under-saintly-s_757840.png" --- # That practis'd falsehood under saintly shew, Deep malice… ![“That practis'd falsehood under saintly shew, Deep malice to conceal, couch'd with revenge.” quote by John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/john-milton-191_couches_that-practis-d-falsehood-under-saintly-s_757840.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/john-milton-191_couches_that-practis-d-falsehood-under-saintly-s_757840.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/john-milton-191_couches_that-practis-d-falsehood-under-saintly-s_757840.png) > “That practis'd falsehood under saintly shew, Deep malice to conceal, couch'd with revenge.” [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes falsehood cloaked in holy appearance, driven by deep malice and revenge. **In simple terms:** Deceit hides behind piety, fueled by hatred and revenge. Key Takeaway Beware appearances that mask malicious intent. Themes deception religion malice revenge appearance Mood cautionary reflective serious Type philosophical ethical literary When to use this quote - political rhetoric - religious preaching - personal relationships - media messaging Key Concepts Moral corruption hypocrisy ethical danger Questions to Reflect On - What signs reveal hidden deceit? - How can we discern true intent behind pious claims? A Different Perspective Not all falsehood is obvious; subtlety can be dangerous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Couch Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couch-revenge-5882909/) [Couches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couches/) [Deep Malice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-malice-3781120/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Falsehood Saintly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood-saintly-5882908/) [Malice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malice/) [Malice Conceal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malice-conceal-5882907/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) ## Related quotes > [“Deep malice makes too deep incision. Forget, forgive, conclude and be agreed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/deep-malice-makes-too-deep-incision-forget-forgive-conclude-and-be/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [This we prescribe, though no physician; Deep malice makes too deep incision; Forget, forgive; conclude and be agreed; Our doctors say this is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/this-we-prescribe-though-no-physician-deep-malice-makes-too-deep/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Now came still evening on, and twilight gray Had in her sober livery all things clad; Silence accompany'd; for beast and bird, They to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/now-came-still-evening-on-and-twilight-gray-had-in-her-sober-livery-2/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“  Such Pleasure took the Serpent to behold   This Flourie Plat, the sweet recess of EVE   Thus earlie, thus alone; her Heav'nly forme   Angelic, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/such-pleasure-took-the-serpent-to-behold-this-flourie-plat-the-sweet/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Now came still evening on; and twilight gray Had in her sober livery all things clad: Silence accompanied; for beast and bird, They to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/now-came-still-evening-on-and-twilight-gray-had-in-her-sober-livery/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [I can sit here on the couch and hear you say, "You're very feminine and very attractive," but I have always struggled with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-can-sit-here-on-the-couch-and-hear-you-say-you-re-very-feminine-and/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [If you come up with the original idea on your laptop, anything else is an embellishment of that idea. 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They think it's just somebody sitting on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-skaggs/country-and-western-is-ignored-by-the-intellectuals-they-don-t-look/) [Ricky Skaggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-skaggs/) > [I roll out of my couch every morning with the more agreeable expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/i-roll-out-of-my-couch-every-morning-with-the-more-agreeable/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Like it or not, people tend to buy paintings to match their drapes, couch or carpet. I know you want them to be so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/like-it-or-not-people-tend-to-buy-paintings-to-match-their-drapes/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [The debut show, “Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary,” is supposed to be about how artists reuse humble or unusual materials. There’s good work here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/the-debut-show-second-lives-remixing-the-ordinary-is-supposed-to-be/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [Me and Frosted went to get a drink. But she ordered somethin' bugged, and I ain't know what to think. She ordered potassium, calcium,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/me-and-frosted-went-to-get-a-drink-but-she-ordered-somethin-bugged/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [I don't sleep. I wait. I sleep in cars and on couches. I sleep when I can, but when I can't sleep, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/i-don-t-sleep-i-wait-i-sleep-in-cars-and-on-couches-i-sleep-when-i/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) ## More by John Milton > [Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/love-quarrels-oft-in-pleasing-concord-end/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [What better can we do than prostrate fall before Him reverent, and there confess humbly our faults, and pardon beg with tears watering the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/what-better-can-we-do-than-prostrate-fall-before-him-reverent-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-re-assembling-our-afflicted-powers-consult-how-we-may-henceforth/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Yet hold it more humane, more heav'nly, first, By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/yet-hold-it-more-humane-more-heav-nly-first-by-winning-words-to/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [O nightingale, that on yon bloomy spray Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still; Thou with fresh hope the lover's heart dost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/o-nightingale-that-on-yon-bloomy-spray-warblest-at-eve-when-all-the/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The debt immense of endless gratitude, So burthensome, still paying, still to owe; Forgetful what from him I still receivd, And understood not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-debt-immense-of-endless-gratitude-so-burthensome-still-paying/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There is no truth sure enough to justify persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/there-is-no-truth-sure-enough-to-justify-persecution/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [New Presbyter is but Old Priest writ Large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/new-presbyter-is-but-old-priest-writ-large/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And what is faith, love, virtue unassayed Alone, without exterior help sustained?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-what-is-faith-love-virtue-unassayed-alone-without-exterior-help/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [This is servitude, To serve th'unwise, or him who hath rebelled Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, Thyself not free, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/this-is-servitude-to-serve-th-unwise-or-him-who-hath-rebelled-against/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Let us seek Death, or he not found, supply With our own hands his office on ourselves; Why stand we longer shivering under fears,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/let-us-seek-death-or-he-not-found-supply-with-our-own-hands-his/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [They are the troublers, they are the dividers of unity, who neglect and don't permit others to unite those dissevered pieces which are yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/they-are-the-troublers-they-are-the-dividers-of-unity-who-neglect-and/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Explore all 966 John Milton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## More Couches quotes > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I don't sleep. I wait. I sleep in cars and on couches. I sleep when I can, but when I can't sleep, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/i-don-t-sleep-i-wait-i-sleep-in-cars-and-on-couches-i-sleep-when-i/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [Me and Frosted went to get a drink. But she ordered somethin' bugged, and I ain't know what to think. She ordered potassium, calcium,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/me-and-frosted-went-to-get-a-drink-but-she-ordered-somethin-bugged/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [The debut show, “Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary,” is supposed to be about how artists reuse humble or unusual materials. There’s good work here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/the-debut-show-second-lives-remixing-the-ordinary-is-supposed-to-be/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [Like it or not, people tend to buy paintings to match their drapes, couch or carpet. I know you want them to be so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/like-it-or-not-people-tend-to-buy-paintings-to-match-their-drapes/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [I roll out of my couch every morning with the more agreeable expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/i-roll-out-of-my-couch-every-morning-with-the-more-agreeable/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Country and western is ignored by the intellectuals. They don't look at it as an art form. They think it's just somebody sitting on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-skaggs/country-and-western-is-ignored-by-the-intellectuals-they-don-t-look/) [Ricky Skaggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-skaggs/) > [I believe that what so saddens the reformer is not his sympathy with his fellows in distress, but, though he be the holiest son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-believe-that-what-so-saddens-the-reformer-is-not-his-sympathy-with/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [If you come up with the original idea on your laptop, anything else is an embellishment of that idea. It's nice to have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-mohawke/if-you-come-up-with-the-original-idea-on-your-laptop-anything-else-is/) [Hudson Mohawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-mohawke/) > [I can sit here on the couch and hear you say, "You're very feminine and very attractive," but I have always struggled with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-can-sit-here-on-the-couch-and-hear-you-say-you-re-very-feminine-and/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [After Nicholas hung up the phone, he watched his mother carry buckets and garden tools across the couch grass toward a bed that would,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-irwin/after-nicholas-hung-up-the-phone-he-watched-his-mother-carry-buckets/) [Stephen M. Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-irwin/) > [Movies are as old as psychoanalysis. 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