Meaning & Analysis
He presents himself differently to God than to the devil; he is outwardly pious but secretly wicked or duplicitous.
Insights
Hypocrisy
The proverb denounces those who pretend virtue and righteousness while harboring or practicing vice, highlighting the duplicity of presenting contradictory moral faces to different audiences.
Moral Double Standards
It symbolizes the capacity for individuals to live by conflicting ethical codes depending on context, showing piety or good intentions in some settings and indulging in wrongdoing in others.
Historical and Religious Resonance
In early modern Europe, religious and moral hypocrisy was a frequent target of satire and social criticism. This proverb draws on the powerful symbolism of God and the devil to underline the gravity of presenting a false image, especially in matters of faith.
Universal Social Critique
Variants of this motif—such as 'He bears two faces under one hood'—are found across cultures, marking the proverb as a timeless warning against duplicity, whether in religion, politics, or personal relationships.
Psychological Complexity
The saying reflects an awareness of the divided self: the tendency of people to compartmentalize aspects of identity, sometimes as a form of self-protection, sometimes for manipulation or gain.
Rhetorical Devices
Antithesis
By pairing 'God' and 'the devil,' the proverb creates a stark moral opposition, amplifying the seriousness of the double life it condemns.
Metaphor
'Face' serves as a metaphor for persona or outward behavior, allowing the saying to speak to a broad range of contexts beyond literal expression.
Parallelism
The symmetrical construction of 'one face...another' lends balance and rhetorical force to the condemnation.
Transcription
Quotations
(Ye have a face)
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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