O serpent heart, hid with a flow'ring face!
Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?

O serpent heart, hid with a flow'ring face!
Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?

Some hypocrites and seeming mortified men, that held down their
heads, were like the little images that they place read more

Some hypocrites and seeming mortified men, that held down their
heads, were like the little images that they place in the very
bowing of the vaults of churches, that look as if they held up
the church, but are but puppets.

Those who try to lead the people can only do so by following the mob

Those who try to lead the people can only do so by following the mob

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.

For neither man nor angel can discern
Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks
Invisible, except to God read more

For neither man nor angel can discern
Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks
Invisible, except to God alone,
By his permissive will, through heav'n and earth.

Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing

Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing

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.

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.

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