Best Quotes from The Crucible by Arthur Miller with Page Numbers

Their creed forbade anything resembling a theater or 'vain enjoyment.'

They believed, in short, that they held in their steady hands the candle that would light the world.

Even high purposes, the people of Salem developed a theocracy...to keep the community together.

But the people of Salem in 1692 were not quite the dedicated folk that arrived on the Mayflower.

The issue was not clear-cut, for danger was still a possibility, and in unity still lay the best promise of safety.

There is no prospect yet that we will discover its resolution.

It is still impossible for man to organize his social life without repressions.

It suddenly became possible -and patriotic and holy -for a man to say that...Martha laid herself down on his chest.

This predilection for minding other people's business was time-honored among the people of Salem.

I have given you a home, child, I have put clothes upon your back -now give me upright answer.

I mean to please you, Elizabeth.

It’s winter in here yet.

The town’s gone wild, I think.

Now we must be wise, Elizabeth.

Fear nothing. I’ll find Ezekiel Cheever.

I’ll bring you home. I will bring you soon.

I will fall like an ocean on that court!

Damn the Deputy Governor! Out of my house!

You are a broken minister.

God will not let you wash your hands of this!

We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.

Do that which is good, and no harm shall come to thee.

A man will not cast away his good name.

It is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it.

I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits.

You are either with this court or you must be counted against it.

This is a sharp time, now, a precise time — we live no longer in the dusky afternoon when evil mixed itself with good.

God sees everything, I know it now.

If I should tell you now that I will let her be kept another month; and if she begin to show her natural signs, you shall have her living yet another year.

I denounce these proceedings!

Life, woman, life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it.

I have given you my soul; leave me my name!

You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor!

Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it.

He has his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!

I think it is honest; I think so; I am no saint.

It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice.

We cannot read His will!

I feel the urge to be honest, but I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor.

You cannot hang this sort. There is danger for me.