The Crucible Quotes

"The magistrate sits in your heart."

Elizabeth Proctor Occurrence: Act 2, Elizabeth Proctor says this to John when he says that she is still judging him because of the affair he had with Abigail. He feels that she has not forgiven him as she has claimed to have done. She states that it is his own guilty conscious that he is sensing.

"It were a cold house I kept."

Elizabeth Proctor Occurrence: Act 4, Elizabeth Proctor is pouring her heart out to her husband, John, who stands accused of practicing witchcraft, and whose affair with Abigail helped precipitate the chain of events leading to the witch trials. Elizabeth is forced by circumstances to come to terms with the distant, formal nature of her relationship with her husband.

"I am not your judge. I cannot be."

Elizabeth Proctor Occurrence: Act 4, When Proctor and Elizabeth are holding a conversation about how John should handle the situation he is in.

"I think that be the Devil's argument."

Elizabeth Proctor Occurrence: Act 4, when John Proctor tries to persuade her that he should lie to save his own life.

I'm not sayin' she's touched the Devil, now, but I'd admire to know what books she reads and why she hides them. She'll not answer me, y' see."

Giles Corey Occurrence: Act 1 , Reverend Hale arrives, John is ready to leave Paris's house and asks Giles to come along. Giles says he wants to stay because he has "some few queer questions of my own to ask this fellow."

"This man is killing his neighbors for their land!"

Giles Corey Occurrence: Act 3, Giles Corey comes to court in to file a deposition that Thomas Putnam is essentially encouraging his daughter to accuse people of witchcraft so that he can claim their land.

"Witchery's a hangin' error, a hanglin' like they done in Boston two year ago!"

Mary Warren Occurrence: Act 1, Mary pleads with Abby to cut the charade so they don't get into any more trouble.

"'I'll murder you,' he says, 'if my wife hangs! We must go and overthrow the court,' he says"

Mary Warren Occurrence: Act 3, When Mary realizes that Abigail and the other girls are going to persist with their accusations against her in court, she says to her employer, John Proctor, "You're the Devil's man!" Then, when questioned further by Deputy Governor Danforth, she accuses John of being in league with the Devil and of trying to lure her into an alliance with the Devil as well.

"My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my—my strongbox is broke into."

Reverend Parris Occurrence: Act 4, Reverend Parris is speaking to Danforth after Abigail decided to take his money and leave.

"If I must answer that, I will leave and I will not come back again."

Abigail Williams Occurrence: Act 3 , Danforth questions Abigail about Proctor's accusations of lying.

"I had my doubts, but here's calamity. You see it, sir, it is a needle!"

Cheever Occurrence: Act 2, Hale just pulled a needle out of a poppet and is showing it to Proctor. He claimed that he was trying to deny the fact that they were doing witchcraft.

"The pure in heart need no lawyers."

Danforth Occurrence: Act 3, Danforth is talking to the prosecutors in the church

"I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statutes."

Danforth Occurrence: Act 4, Danforth is speaking to Parris in their long conversation after Parris tries to free those that were accused.

"I beg you, stop now before another is condemned! I may shut my conscience to it no more."

Hale Occurrence: Act 3, Proctor went before the court to prove his wife innocent and accuse Abigail of telling lies. Danforth listens to what Proctor has to say and Proctor admits to having relations with Abigail. Danforth brings Elizabeth in for questioning to see if Proctor is telling the truth. Elizabeth does not tell the court the complete truth and as she is being brought away Hale tells Danforth this.

"It may be that ********s a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride."

Hale Occurrence: Act 4, Hale persuades Elizabeth to talk to her husband before he was to face the death penalty. During the course of the conversation Hale comments that "'it may be that God ***** a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride'" (132). Elizabeth at last agrees to meet with John.

"I'll tell you what's walking Salem—vengeance is walking Salem."

John Proctor Occurrence: Act 2, Officials of the court travel to John Proctor's home to arrest his wife after Abigail claims Elizabeth sent her spirit to murder her. After Reverend Hale informs Elizabeth that Abigail has charged her with murder, John tears the warrant and rants about witchcraft.

"Your justice would freeze beer."

John Proctor Occurrence: Act 2, When Elizabeth accuses him of dishonesty, Proctor gets angry that she still won't trust him seven months after the affair. He says she is colder than ice since beer freezes at a colder temperature than water.

"I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name."

John Proctor Occurrence: Act 3, Proctor is willing to ruin his good name to finally expose the girls as liars. He is trying to save his wife by proving to Mr. Danforth that Abigail committed adultery and seeks the sole destruction of Proctor's marriage, by means of eliminating Elizabeth.

"I think I'll go, then. I am too old for this [...] I go to God for you, sir."

Rebecca Nurse Occurrence: Act 1, when they are trying to bring Betty to good health, Rebecca leaves prematurely.

"I am paid little enough without I spend six pound on firewood."

Reverend Parris Occurrence: Act 1, Parris is complaining about his salary to Giles and Proctor