As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
William ShakespeareRead
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The manipulation of truth can serve deceptive ends.
This quote by William Shakespeare suggests that even noble or moral ideas can be twisted for sinister purposes. It warns us that those with ulterior motives can use trusted concepts, like Scripture, to justify their actions. This serves as a reminder to critically assess the intentions behind statements and beliefs, rather than accepting them at face value.
Themes
ManipulationTruthDeceptionScriptureIntention
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethics, one might say, 'Remember, the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.'
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