H is for HYPOCRISY

Few men speak humbly of humility, chastely of chastity, skeptically of skepticism.

Blaise Pascal




He knows much of what men paint themselves would blister in the light of what they are.

Edwin Arlington Robinson





All live by seeming.
The beggar begs with it, and the gay courtier
Gains land and title, rank and rule, by seeming;
The clergy scorn it not, and the bold soldier
Will eke with it his service.--All admit it,
All practise it; and he who is content
With showing what he is, shall have small credit
In church, or camp, or state.--So wags the world.

Sir Walter Scott



Oh, what may man within him hide, though angel on the outward side!

William Shakespeare



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!

William Shakespeare




Away, and mock the time with fairest show;
False face must hide what the false heart doth khow.

William Shakespeare



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

William Shakespeare




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

William Shakespeare



It is easy for men to talk one thing and think another.

Syrus (Publilius Syrus), Maxims



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




I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy.

Oscar Wilde (Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde



The world's all title-page; there's no contents;
The world's all face; the man who shows his heart
Is hooted for his nudities, and scorn'd.

Edward Young



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.

Edward Young