Tartuffe

Famous quotes

• Against backbiting there is no defence
  So let us try to live in innocence,
  To silly tattle pay no heed at all,
  And leave the gossips free to vent their gall.

  Act I, Scene I, spoken by CleanteIn context

  • Advice
  • Talking

• Those whose own conduct’s most ridiculous,
  Are always quickest to speak ill of others;

  Act I, Scene I, spoken by DorineIn context

  • Character
  • Talking

• There are false heroes⁠—and false devotees;
  And as true heroes never are the ones
  Who make much noise about their deeds of honour,
  Just so true devotees, whom we should follow,
  Are not the ones who make so much vain show.

  Act I, Scene VI, spoken by CleanteIn context

  • Religion
  • Virtue

• Men, for the most part, are strange creatures, truly!
  You never find them keep the golden mean;
  The limits of good sense, too narrow for them,
  Must always be passed by, in each direction;
  They often spoil the noblest things, because
  They go too far, and push them to extremes.

  Act I, Scene VI, spoken by CleanteIn context

  • Wisdom

• Cover up that bosom, which I can’t
  Endure to look on. Things like that offend
  Our souls, and fill our minds with sinful thoughts.

  Act III, Scene II, spoken by TartuffeIn context

  • Comedy
  • Sex

• Though pious, I am none the less a man;
  And when a man beholds your heavenly charms,
  The heart surrenders, and can think no more.

  Act III, Scene III, spoken by TartuffeIn context

  • Love
  • Religion

• Heaven forbids, ’tis true, some satisfactions;
  But we find means to make things right with Heaven.

  Act IV, Scene V, spoken by TartuffeIn context

  • Morality
  • Religion

• The public scandal is what brings offence,
  And secret sinning is not sin at all.

  Act IV, Scene V, spoken by TartuffeIn context

  • Morality
  • Truth & Lies

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