13 quotes
The Struggle for Identity and Integrity
John Proctor
Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them you have hanged! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Witchcraft Accusations in Courtroom Drama
Judge Hathorne
Now, Sarah Osborne, here is Sarah Good, who has confessed to witchcraft and therefore will not hang. I bid you, follow her example. She testifies that when the devil came to her, you were in his company.
Sarah Good
There he stood, big as life, him and her, and Osborne writing her name in his book with her own red blood!
Sarah Osborne
Your Honors, I never see the devil in my life. But I can dance as fast backwards as I can forwards!
[stands up from the bench]
Judge Hathorne
Sit down, I tell you. Sit! Sit her down!
Sarah Osborne
Let go of me! You must stop your funning. You must give up your stories. You bring me to harm! Do you hear me? You bring me to harm!
[advances to Abigail and the girls]
Abigail Williams
Oh! Stop hurting me, Goody Osborne! Help me, Judge Danforth!
[frightened]
Judge Danforth
What are you doing to these girls?
Judge Hathorne
What do you mumble to make them so sick?
Sarah Osborne
I was only-only saying my Commandments. I hope I may say my Commandments.
Judge Sewall
Pray, let her recite her Commandments.
Sarah Osborne
Your Grace, I may only say my Commandments outdoor.
Judge Danforth
There are ten Commandments. Do you know any? You have lied to the court. I say, you have lied to the court. Have you not?
Sarah Osborne
I'm innocent to witch. The devil knows that!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Warning Against Underestimating Evil
Abigail Williams
Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. Do you think yourself so mighty the Devil may not turn your wits?
[to Thomas Danforth]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Struggle Between Good and Evil Within
John Proctor
Hell and Heaven grapple on our backs, and all our old pretenses ripped away. God's icy wind will blow.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Land Dispute Among Neighbors
Thomas Putnam
I warned you once before, Proctor! That's my lumber! You're in my bounds!
John Proctor
My land's always run up through the forest, and I haven't sold any, Putnam.
Thomas Putnam
It is clear in my grandfather's will. My land...
Giles Corey
Your grandfather damn near willed away my north pasture! But he knew I'd break his arm if he tried it. Go on!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Displaying Honor Through Resilience and Strength
John Proctor
Show honor now, show them a stony heart and sink them with it!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unresolved Feelings and Rejected Past
Abigail Williams
I know how you sweated like a stallion whenever I'd come near you. I saw your face when she put me out. You loved me then, and you do now.
John Proctor
Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time - but I will cut off my hand before I reach for you again. We never touched.
Abigail Williams
Aye, but we did.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reciting the Commandments in The Crucible
Rev. John Hale
Do you know your commandments, Mr. Proctor?
John Proctor
Aye.
Rev. John Hale
Would you recite them please?
John Proctor
The commandments?
Rev. John Hale
Aye.
John Proctor
Thou shalt not kill.
Rev. John Hale
Aye.
John Proctor
Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not covet thy neighbors goods, nor covet thy neighbors wives, thou shalt have no other Gods before me, thou shalt not use the Lord's name in vain, thou shalt keep holy the sabbath day, thou shalt honor thy mother and father, thou shalt not bare to false witness... thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wives.
Rev. John Hale
You said that one twice, Sir.
John Proctor
Aye.
Elizabeth
Adultery, John.
John Proctor
Aye. You see, Sir, between the two of us, we do know them all.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Proclamation of Divine Abandonment
John Proctor
I say, I say, God is dead!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Desire for Maternal Comfort in Crisis
Betty Parris
I want my mama.
Abigail Williams
Your mama's dead and buried.
Betty Parris
I'll find her! Let me fly! Mama! No!
Abigail Williams
Why are you doing this? I told you, he knows now.
Betty Parris
You drank blood, Abby. You didn't tell him that!
Abigail Williams
You never say that again!
[slaps Betty across the face]
Betty Parris
You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!
Abigail Williams
Shut up! All of you. We danced. That is all, and mark this, if anyone breathe a word or the edge of a word about the other things, I will come to you in the black of some terrible night, and I will bring with me a pointy reckoning that will shudder you! And you know I can do it. I saw Indians smash my dear parents heads on the pillow next to mine. And I have seen some reddish work done at night. And I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!
[throws Betty on the bed and starts hitting her]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Critique of Elizabeth's Sense of Justice
John Proctor
Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Finality in John Proctor's Declaration to Abigail
John Proctor
We will not meet again, Abigail, in this World or the next.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Divine Will and Human Judgment
Abigail Williams
I am but God's finger, John. If he would condemn Elizabeth, she will be condemned.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.