The phrase "holier than thou" is used sarcastically to describe someone who acts self-righteous or morally superior to others. This attitude can come off as pretentious or condescending, prompting others to mockingly accuse them of thinking they are better than everyone else. Sarcasm highlights the discrepancy between their actual behavior and the moral high ground they claim to occupy. Essentially, it's a critique of perceived hypocrisy in someone's moral stance.
If you are referring to the "pious" woman (I believe her mentions the phrase "holier than thou art" when she is shown, that is Florence Henderson. She was the original Carol Brady from the Brady Bunch TV show in the 70s.
She says this: I . . . am enjoin'd By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here, And beg your pardon: pardon, I beseech you! Henceforward I am ever ruled by you. It's in Act IV Scene 2
I think it's because she thinks she was "too easy" "Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won..." Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face, Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny What I have spoke: but farewell compliment! Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,' And I will take thy word: yet if thou swear'st, Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries Then say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo, If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully: Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won, I'll frown and be perverse an say thee nay, So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world. In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, And therefore thou mayst think my 'havior light: But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true Than those that have more cunning to be strange. I should have been more strange, I must confess, But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware, My true love's passion: therefore pardon me, And not impute this yielding to light love, Which the dark night hath so discovered.
The answer is, you. As in: Thou are a fair maid: you are a fair maid.
Why in the world would you want to reword it? It's perfect as it is. Unless perhaps you haven't caught on to the "thou art" and "thou hast" and "thou dost" usage. Back in Shakespeare's day, that was how you talked to your good friends, your lover, your childhood nurse, your pets and your servants. To others you would say "you are", "you have" and "you do".
His holier-than-thou attitude annoyed me, since I happened to know his information was wrong.
Being holier than thou
Being holier than thou
Save Me - 2013 Holier Than Thou 1-7 was released on: USA: 13 June 2013
Holier is the quality of being more holy.She was very much 'holier than thou.'The Vatican had a holier atmosphere than any other place I've ever been
If someone acts "holier than thou" it means they have a tendency to act as though they are better than everyone else, particularly in their morals, beliefs and behaviour.
offensively self-righteous Like I'm better then you.. I read in Matthew 6:17 when Jesus said, "but thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head and wash thy face. A true definition of this saying (You think you're holier than thou) is (you think you're holier than you, because when ever the word thou was used it was translated from the word you. "But you, when you fast."
holier than thou
Don't hand that holier than thou line to me
It is a slang way to refer to someone who feels they are more righteous than other people. Their "righteousness" is said to be about themselves and not about God. So they are "self righteous." It is similar to "arrogant" but with a religious connotation. Sometimes people will also say "holier than thou."
Zealot , Righteous, religious and in some cases holier-than-thou!
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