I have seen too many frightful proofs in court — the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!" - Meaning and context.">
John Hale

Though our own hearts break, we cannot flinch; these are new times, sir. There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respect and ancient friendships. I have seen too many frightful proofs in court — the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!

— Arthur Miller

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Though our own hearts break, we cannot flinch; these are new times, sir. There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respect and ancient friendships. I have seen too many frightful proofs in court — the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!" in the context of "John Hale" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

Source: Wikiquote: "Arthur Miller" (Quotes, The Crucible (1953):   Act I ) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Arthur Miller

About Arthur Miller

Arthur Asher Miller (17 October 1915 – 10 February 2005) was an American playwright, essayist, and author. Widely recognized as one of the most significant American playwrights of the 20th Century, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949 for Death of a Salesman.