| 单词 | the devil can cite scripture for his purpose |
| 释义 | > as lemmasthe devil can cite (also quote) scripture for his (own) purpose h. the devil can cite (also quote) scripture for his (own) purpose and variants: anyone engaged in wrongdoing can quote selectively from the Bible to support a position or argument, or (in extended use) justify an action by referring to a text, historical event, etc.With allusion to Matthew 4:6, in which the Devil quotes from Psalm 91:12 in order to persuade Jesus to succumb to the second temptation in the wilderness. ΚΠ 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. iii. 97 The deuill can cite Scripture for his purpose . View more context for this quotation 1763 Beauties of all Mag. Sel. 2 389/2 I stared at him, as he was hypocritically holding forth. But this made me recollect the old proverb, that even the devil can quote scripture, if he wants his turn to be served by it. 1786 J. Reed Rope's-end for Hempen Monopolists 5 Broker: Even Scripture itself declares in their favor—as I remember It says, ‘Where there is no law, there is no transgression.’ Rope-maker. ‘The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.’ 1829 Foreign Rev. 284 The Devil can quote scripture for his purpose; and earthly potentates can, it seems, prostitute the holy name of justice to the most unhallowed of purposes. 1888 Reliquary Oct. 251 We cannot help recalling the old saw, ‘the devil can quote scripture for his own ends’. 1909 J. P. Meakin Leaves of Truth 124 One paragraph from any speech or work can be made to mean anything—‘the devil can quote scripture for his own purpose’. 1978 V. Windeyer Austral. in Commonw.: 1977 Commonw. Lect. 29 The controversy has been marked by differing assertions of constitutional principle... If the Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, propagandists can twist history for theirs. 2001 D. Hall Family Secrets xxi. 177 ‘I am not my brother's keeper,’ a voice said, something out of the Bible, but before I could be comforted by it, I heard Grandma saying, ‘Even the devil can quote scripture for his purpose.’ < as lemmas |
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