We have changed our privacy policy. In addition, we use cookies on our website for various purposes. By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. You can learn about our practices by reading our privacy policy.

Tartuffe Foolishness and Folly Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Scene.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue. We used Richard Wilbur's translation.

Quote #1

Madame Pernelle:
"Children, I take my leave much vexed in spirit.
I offer good advice but you won't hear it.
You all break in and chatter on and on.
It's like a madhouse with the keeper gone." (1.1.5)

Madame Pernelle considers Orgon's family to be mad; as we find out, however, they "break in and chatter on and on" in attempt to persuade Madame Pernelle that her ideas are, in fact, crazy.

Quote #2

Madame Pernelle:
"These visits, balls, and parties in which you revel
Are nothing but inventions of the Devil.
[…]
People are driven half-insane
At such affairs, where noise and folly reign
And reputations perish thick and fast.
As a wise preacher said on Sunday last,
Parties are Towers of Babylon, because
The guests all babble on with never a pause;" (1.1.34)

Madame Pernelle's description of "visits, balls, and parties" is similar to the chaos that Tartuffe has brought to Orgon's house.

Quote #3

Cléante:
"My, what a scene she made, and what a din!
And how this man Tartuffe has taken her in!"

Dorine:
"Her son is worse deceived;
His folly must be seen to be believed." (1.2.3-4)

Dorine's claim is a bit hard to swallow, but seeing is believing in this case; Orgon really is worse deceived.