The Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare

The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness 100 Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart. O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

Tell me where is fancy bred, Or in the heart or in the head,

The quality of mercy is not strain’d; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

So shines a good deed in a naughty world.