Plays quotes

Yet if from modesty I had refrained from treating these subjects I should not have been able to attain my object—to glorify the innocent to the best of my ability.

For the more seductive the blandishments of lovers the more wonderful the divine succour and the greater the merit of those who resist, especially when it is fragile woman who is victorious and strong man who is routed with confusion.

I have no doubt that many will say that my poor work is much inferior to that of the author whom I have taken as my model, that it is on a much humbler scale, and indeed altogether different.

I know that it is as wrong to deny a divine gift as to pretend falsely that we have received it. So I will not deny that through the grace of the Creator I have acquired some knowledge of the arts.

He has given me the ability to learn⁠—I am a teachable creature⁠—yet of myself I should know nothing.

He has given me a perspicacious mind, but one that lies fallow and idle when it is not cultivated.

Such has been my motive in writing, the sole reason for the sweat and fatigue which my labours have cost me. At least I do not pretend to have knowledge where I am ignorant.

On the contrary, my best claim to indulgence is that I know how much I do not know.

Impelled by your kindly interest and your express wish I come, bowing low like a reed, to submit this little work to your judgment.

As both are immense should they not be rewarded on the same scale?

It is easier for a man to undertake a difficult enterprise when he is sustained by the knowledge that his reward is sure.

I beg you then to promise me now my prize for this dangerous undertaking. In hard and strenuous fighting, when it seems as if I must be defeated, the thought of this reward will give me new strength.

If I despaired of divine help I should be more wretched than you.

But a heart which trusts in God’s goodness is armed against sorrow.

You speak well, my Constance.

Peace! Silence all of you! The Emperor comes. His face is not anxious as when he left us, but serene and glad.

It is said that the face is the mirror of the soul.

If this be true, the calm joy in his reflects a kindly mood.

Soldiers, lay down arms. Slay no one, wound no one, but embrace as friends these men whom you had to fight as enemies of the Empire.

How much more powerful is one fervent prayer than all the pride of man!

What mighty succour God in His mercy sends to those who humbly trust in Him!

I have had good proof of it.

But the promise made when the storm was raging must be kept now it is calm.

I agree. It is my wish to be baptized as soon as possible, and to devote the rest of my life to the service of God.

I do not ask you to worship slaves, but the gods of princes and the rulers of the earth.

A god who can be bought cheap in the marketplace, what is he but a slave?

Enough of this presumptuous chatter. The rack shall put an end to it!

His face, his hands, his clothes! They are all as black as soot.

He looks like an Ethiope.

I am glad. His body should turn black—to match his soul, which is possessed of a devil.

Who is this fearsome, horrid monster? Coming here in these filthy rags! Come, let us beat him and throw him down the steps. Stop him from coming further.

Ye gods, what has happened to me? Am I not dressed in my best? Am I not clean and fine in my person?

And yet everyone who meets me expresses disgust at the sight of me and treats me as if I were some foul monster! I will go to my wife. She will tell me the truth. But here she comes.

For a long time now I have been in great trouble. I hope that by confiding in you I shall find relief.

When a man tells his friends of his sufferings it is only fair that they should try to share them.

I would to heaven that you could lighten this load upon my heart!

What makes you say so?

You are crying for the moon.

Am I the first to do so? Have I not the example of many others to encourage me?

I came to you for consolation, and instead you drive me to despair!

We should be poor friends if we consoled and flattered you at the expense of the truth.

Since you refuse to advise me, I will go to her and pour out my soul in words that would melt a heart of stone!

Yes. And I am desolate.

It is not right to mourn so bitterly for those whose souls we know rejoice in peace.

God knows I do not doubt that her soul is in eternal joy, and that her incorrupt body will rise again. What grieves me so sorely is that in my presence just now she prayed for death. She begged she might die.

So we should be content to marvel at it, as it is not in our power to attain a precise knowledge of the causes of things.

Often the sequel teaches us to understand better.

Then, blessed John, do now what you were told to do. Raise Callimachus to life, and the knot of our perplexity may be untied.

He tried to ruin me! He is not worthy of resurrection!

We are taught by our faith that man must forgive his fellow-man if he would be forgiven by God.

Remember that when the only Son of God, the Virgin’s firstborn, the one man born without a stain, came into this world, He found us all bowed under the heavy weight of sin.

He cannot rejoice in the damnation of those whom He bought with His blood.

This is why we must not grudge the grace of God to anyone. It is no merit of ours if it abounds in ourselves.

Your rebuke makes me ashamed.

Let him die and go down to hell, who through envious spite rejected the gift of life.

Nothing is more terrible than envy, nothing more evil than pride.

The man who is the victim of one is the victim of the other, for they have no separate existence.

Why is it called the star of the sea?

Because it never sets, but shines always in the heavens to show mariners their right course.

And how can such a poor thing as I am—made out of slime, as my uncle says—shine like my name?

If you choose you can be as the angels of God, and when at last you cast off the burden of this mortal body they will be near you.

With them you will pass through the air, and walk on the sky. With them you will sweep round the zodiac, and never slacken your steps until the Virgin’s Son takes you in His arms in His mother’s dazzling bridal room!

Who but an ass would think little of such happiness! So I choose to despise the things of earth, and deny myself now that I may enjoy it!

If I had not been so blind! I ought to have paid more heed to that terrible vision. Yes, I see now that it was sent to warn me.

I dreamed I was standing at the door of my cell, and that a huge dragon with a loathsome stench rushed violently towards me.

I saw that the creature was attracted by a little white dove at my side. It pounced on the dove, devoured it, and vanished.

Then I shall change these clothes, and in the guise of a worldling seek her out.

It may be that she will heed what I say, and even after this shipwreck turn again to the harbour of her innocence and peace.

And suppose that in the world they offer you flesh meat and wine?

Oh, mind, be constant! Tears, do not fall! Must I look on her whom I brought up in the desert, decked out with a harlot’s face? Yes, I must hide what is in my heart.

I must strive not to weep, and smile though my heart is breaking.

Luck comes your way, Mary! Not only do young gallants of your own age flock to your arms, but even the wise and venerable!

Oh, Mary, has anyone ever lived on earth without sin except the Virgin’s Son?

It is human to sin, but it is devilish to remain in sin.

Who can be justly condemned? Not those who fall suddenly, but those who refuse to rise quickly.

No! no! I am afraid. I cannot bear your reproaches.

Remember how I love you, and you will not be afraid.

It is useless. I cannot.

No, no! My sins are too great. They weigh me down.

The mercy of heaven is greater than you or your sins.

Let your sadness be dispersed by its glorious beams. Oh, Mary, do not let apathy prevent your seizing the moment for repentance. It matters not how wickedness has flourished. Divine grace can flourish still more abundantly!

Have you no pity for me? I have sought you out with so much pain and weariness! Oh shake off this despair which we are taught is the most terrible of all sins. Despair of God’s mercy—for that alone there is no forgiveness.

Sin can no more embitter His sweet mercy than a spark from a flint can set the ocean on fire.

I know that God’s mercy is great, but when I think how greatly I have sinned, I cannot believe any penance can make amends.

Courage, Mary! You see how swiftly we have made the difficult and toilsome journey.

Everything is easy when we put our hearts into it.

There is your deserted little cell.

It is right that she should do this.

She strives to make her life as beautiful as for a time it was hideous.

I rejoice at what you tell me. To the depths of my heart.

That is true. But what did you mean, father, when you spoke of “harmonious arrangement”?

I meant that as low and high sounds harmoniously united produce a certain music, so discordant elements rightly adjusted make one world.

It seems strange that discords can become concords.

I meant that as low and high sounds harmoniously united produce a certain music, so discordant elements rightly adjusted make one world.

It seems strange that discords can become concords.

Consider. No thing is composed of “likes”—neither can it be made up of elements which have no proportion among themselves, or which are entirely different in substance and nature.

Some think it is not heard because it is so continuous that men have grown accustomed to it. Others say it is because of the density of the air. Some assert that so enormous a sound could not pass into the mortal ear.

Others that the music of the spheres is so pleasant and sweet that if it were heard all men would come together, and, forgetting themselves and all their pursuits, would follow the sounds from east to west.

It is well that it is not heard.

Where did you get all this learning with which you have puzzled our heads?

It is but a little drop from the full deep wells of learning⁠—wells at which I, a chance passerby, have lapped, but never sat down to drain.

We are grateful for your patience with us; but I for one cannot forget the warning of the Apostle: “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.”

Whether a fool or a wise man does wrong, he will be confounded.

Nor is God offended by Knowledge of the Knowable, only by undue pride on the part of the Knower.

And I would ask you—unto whose praise can the knowledge of the arts be more worthily or more justly turned than to the praise of Him Who made things capable of being known, and gave us the capacity to know them?

And I would ask you—unto whose praise can the knowledge of the arts be more worthily or more justly turned than to the praise of Him Who made things capable of being known, and gave us the capacity to know them?

The more a man realizes the wonderful way in which God has set all things in number and measure and weight, the more ardent his love.

That is as it should be.

Perhaps you will not find the tale to your liking.

A man is often sadder for having his curiosity satisfied, yet he cannot overcome this tendency to be curious. It is part of our weakness.

Brothers—there is a woman, a shameless woman, living in our neighbourhood.

They are so crazed with desire that they quarrel and fight for admission to her house.

One vice brings another in its train.

They come to blows. Heads are broken, faces bruised, noses smashed; at times they drive each other out with weapons, and the threshold of the vile place is dyed with blood!

Who is she?

Thais! She is the flame of this land! She sets all hearts on fire.

They say she is beautiful. The most exquisite woman of her kind in the world!

We understand. Have you money in your purse, stranger?

Thais loves a handsome face, but she loves a full purse more.

Gentlemen, I am rich. I have a rare present to offer her.

And what zest for pleasure do you think is left now in a heart suddenly awakened to a consciousness of guilt!

Remorse has killed everything.

I long to see the thorns of vice cut away, and the choked-up fountain of your tears flowing once more. Tears of repentance are precious in the sight of God.

And what zest for pleasure do you think is left now in a heart suddenly awakened to a consciousness of guilt! Remorse has killed everything.

I long to see the thorns of vice cut away, and the choked-up fountain of your tears flowing once more.

Tears of repentance are precious in the sight of God.

Oh, voice that promises mercy! Do you believe, can you hope that one so vile as I, soiled by thousands and thousands of impurities, can make reparation, can ever by any manner of penance obtain pardon?

Thais, no sin is so great, no crime so black, that it cannot be expiated by tears and penitence, provided they are followed up by deeds.

Show me, I beg you, my father, what I can do to be reconciled with Him I have offended.

Stop, Thais! What are you doing? Are you mad?

I am not mad. For the first time I am sane, and I rejoice!

To waste these pounds of gold, and all the other treasure! Oh, Thais, you have lost your senses! These are beautiful things, precious things, and you burn them!

Oh, happy guilt that has brought such happy penitence! Since you have renounced your earthly lovers, you can now be joined to your Heavenly Lover.

It is for you to show me the way. Be a lantern to me, for all is obscure night.

Trust me, daughter. Follow me.

You shall come with me. But look! The Abbess has come out to meet us. I wonder who can have told her so promptly of our arrival.

Rumour, Father Paphnutius. Rumour never delays.

You come opportunely, illustrious Abbess. I was just seeking you.

You must indeed pray to Him, but with tears, not with words.

Let not a tinkling voice, but the mighty roar of a contrite heart sound in the ear of God.

I desire His pardon. Surely I may ask for it?

Brother Antony! Do you not know me?

This is joy indeed! What pleasures God sends us, when we resign ourselves to have none!

I did not think to see my brother Paphnutius again in this world. Is it indeed you, brother?

That does you no wrong.

Where true love is, loving compassion is not wanting.

I came to beg yours for Thais. Of your charity give me your prayers. I beg you and your disciples to join with me in praying for a sign.

To Paradise! I should be happy if I might be spared hell’s torments and be mercifully cleansed in a gentle fire until my spirit is fit for the eternal happiness.

Grace is the free gift of God and does not depend on our merits. If it did, it could not be called grace.

For this let the choirs of heaven praise Him, and all the little twigs and fresh green leaves on earth, all animals, and the great waters. He is patient with us when we fall! He is generous in His gifts when we repent.

For this let the choirs of heaven praise Him, and all the little twigs and fresh green leaves on earth, all animals, and the great waters. He is patient with us when we fall! He is generous in His gifts when we repent.

He loves to be merciful. From all eternity He has preferred pardon to punishment.

Holy father, do not leave me. Be near to comfort me in this hour of my death.

Of what sex are the children?

And you think that a handful of women threaten danger to the state?

I do, and very grave danger.

Take warning. If you are obstinate, you will be put to the torture.

It is in your power to kill the body, but you will not succeed in harming the soul.

The day has passed, and the night is falling. This is no time to argue. Supper is ready.

This is not to be endured!

What is it but folly to tell us to insult the Creator of the world and worship a bit of metal!

This girl is crazy—a raving lunatic! She calls the ruler of the world a fool!

Oh, what an insult—to be defied by a mere doll!

Although I am small, my reason is big enough to put you to shame.

Take her away, Antiochus, and have her stretched on the rack and whipped.

Then order a furnace to be heated for three days and three nights, and let her be cast into the flames.

A mighty man! He cannot conquer a child of eight without calling in fire to help him!

Go, Antiochus, and see that my orders are carried out.