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The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose

Cultural  

  1. Even things that are good in themselves (such as the Bible) (see also Bible) can be twisted to serve bad purposes. This proverb comes from the play The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Day 18 of the Aurora, Colo., shooting trial was an exercise in the old adage: The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2015

Mark you this, Bassanio, The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.

From The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare, William

When Shylock attempts to defend himself by citing the way Jacob cheated Laban, Antonio answers contemptuously "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose."

From The Man Shakespeare by Harris, Frank

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.