Tartuffe or, The Hypocrite

That decent people cannot tolerate. I’m rather frank with you; but that’s my way– I don’t mince matters, when I mean a thing.

DAMIS Mr. Tartuffe, your friend, is mighty lucky . . .

MADAME PERNELLE He is a holy man, and must be heeded; I can’t endure, with any show of patience, To hear a scatterbrains like you attack him.

DAMIS What! Shall I let a bigot criticaster Come and usurp a tyrant’s power here? And shall we never dare amuse ourselves Till this fine gentleman deigns to consent?

DORINE If we must hark to him, and heed his maxims, There’s not a thing we do but what’s a crime; He censures everything, this zealous carper.

MADAME PERNELLE And all he censures is well censured, too. He wants to guide you on the way to heaven; My son should train you all to love him well.