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?

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.

Hypocrisy and distortion are passing currents under the name of religion

Hypocrisy and distortion are passing currents under the name of religion

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.

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.

Constant at Church and 'Change; his gains were sure;
His givings rare, save farthings to the poor.

Constant at Church and 'Change; his gains were sure;
His givings rare, save farthings to the poor.

The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.

The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.

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

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.]