Accusation Quote by Matthew Gregory Lewis
““Man of an hard heart! Hear me, Proud, Stern, and Cruel! You could have saved me; you could have restored me to happiness and virtue, but would not! You are the destroyer of my Soul; You are my Murderer, and on you fall the curse of my death and my unborn Infant’s! Insolent in your yet-unshaken virtue, you disdained the prayers of a Penitent; But God will show mercy, though you show none. And where is the merit of your boasted virtue? What temptations have you vanquished? Coward! you have fled from it, not opposed seduction. But the day of Trial will arrive! Oh! then when you yield to impetuous passions! when you feel that Man is weak, and born to err; When shuddering you look back upon your crimes, and solicit with terror the mercy of your God, Oh! in that fearful moment think upon me! Think upon your Cruelty! Think upon Agnes, and despair of pardon!””
About This Quote
Source Play: The Monk, Matthew Gregory Lewis, 1796
A desperate plea exposing the cruelty of a hardened heart, urging repentance before divine judgment.
In simple terms: A plea for mercy against a cruel soul.
Key Takeaway
Seek humility and compassion.
Themes
repentance
justice
spiritual conflict
Mood
desperate
accusatory
dramatic
Type
dramatic
poetic
religious
When to use this quote
- courtroom confession
- personal crisis
- religious sermon
- ethical counseling
Key Concepts
moral accountability
divine judgment
human frailty
Questions to Reflect On
- Can cruelty ever be redeemed?
- What does true repentance look like?
A Different Perspective
The speaker assumes the listener can be swayed by guilt, which may not hold true.
