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.]

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.

For neither man nor angel can discern
Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks
Invisible, except to God read more

For neither man nor angel can discern
Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks
Invisible, except to God alone,
By his permissive will, through heav'n and earth.

And the veil
Spun from the cobweb fashion of the times,
TO hid the feeling heart?

And the veil
Spun from the cobweb fashion of the times,
TO hid the feeling heart?

Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing

Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing

Oh, for a forty-parson power to chant
Thy praise, Hypocrisy! Oh, for a hymn
Loud as the read more

Oh, for a forty-parson power to chant
Thy praise, Hypocrisy! Oh, for a hymn
Loud as the virtues thou dost loudly vaunt,
Not practise!

Those who try to lead the people can only do so by following the mob

Those who try to lead the people can only do so by following the mob

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.

We are oft to blame in this,
'Tis too much proved, that with devotion's visage
And pious read more

We are oft to blame in this,
'Tis too much proved, that with devotion's visage
And pious action we do sugar o'er
The devil himself.