False Pretence Quotes

The feigning sleeper can delude others he cannot delude himself. The false mystic, unfortunately, can delude both others and himself.

Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.

Often, the people who speak loudest about republican values are the least when it comes to honouring them.

But to appear happy when I am so miserable — Oh! who can require it?

Now, I appeal to the consciences of those that persecute, torment, destroy, and kill other men upon pretence of religion, whether they do it out of friendship and kindness towards them or no? I say, if all this be done merely to make men Christians and procure their salvation, why then do they suffer whoredom, fraud, malice and such-like enormities, which (according to the Apostle) manifestly relish of heathenish corruption, to predominate so much and abound amongst their flocks and people?

I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart: but the saying is true 'The empty vessel makes the greatest sound'.

Those that hate goodness are sometimes nearer than those that know nothing at all about it and think they have it.

we contrive to make revenge itself look like religion. We call down thunder on many a head under pretence, that those on whom we invoke it are God's enemies, when perhaps we invoke it because they are ours.

If you try to become a buddha, one thing is certain - you will not be able to become yourself. One thing only is certain - that you will not be yourself. And then follows the next thing: you can never be a buddha, because you are you and a buddha is buddha. If you try to become a buddha, you cannot be a buddha; at the most you can be an imitation - a plastic flower, not a real rose.

I'm only being cute here. I don't really mean it. I just wanted to make you smile.

It makes me sad when I find sisters who aren't joyful. They might smile, but with just a smile they could be flight attendants!

True glory takes root, and even spreads; all false pretences, like flowers, fall to the ground; nor can any counterfeit last long.

A Fox entered the house of an actor and, rummaging through all his properties, came upon a Mask, an admirable imitation of a human head. He placed his paws on it and said, "What a beautiful head! Yet it is of no value, as it entirely lacks brains."

Avowed work, even when uncongenial, is far less trying to patience than feigned pleasure.

I'm a holy man minus the holiness.