With people of limited ability modesty is merely honesty. But with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy.

With people of limited ability modesty is merely honesty. But with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy.

How inexpressible is the meanness of being a hypocrite! how
horrible is it to be a mischievous and malignant read more

How inexpressible is the meanness of being a hypocrite! how
horrible is it to be a mischievous and malignant hypocrite.
- Voltaire (Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire),

Let me be cruel, not unnatural;
I will speak daggers to her, but use none.
My tongue read more

Let me be cruel, not unnatural;
I will speak daggers to her, but use none.
My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites:
How in my words somever she be shent,
To give them seals never, my soul, consent!

The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity.

The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity.

Every man alone is sincere. At the entrance of a second person, hypocrisy begins.

Every man alone is sincere. At the entrance of a second person, hypocrisy begins.

Hypocrisy is the homage which vice renders to virtue.
[Fr., L'hypocrisie est un hommage que le vice rend a read more

Hypocrisy is the homage which vice renders to virtue.
[Fr., L'hypocrisie est un hommage que le vice rend a la vertu.]

A hypocrite despises those whom he deceives, but has no respect for himself. He would make a dupe of himself read more

A hypocrite despises those whom he deceives, but has no respect for himself. He would make a dupe of himself too, if he could.

A man I knew who lived upon a smile,
And well it fed him; he look'd plump and fair,
read more

A man I knew who lived upon a smile,
And well it fed him; he look'd plump and fair,
While rankest venom foam'd through every vein.

O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!

O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!