Major Barbara Religion Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Act.Line)

Quote #1

I really cannot bear an immoral man. I am not a Pharisee, I hope; and I should not have minded his merely doing wrong things: we are none of us perfect. But your father didn't exactly do wrong things: he said them and thought them: that was what was so dreadful. He really had a sort of religion of wrongness. Just as one doesn't mind men practising immorality so long as they own that they are in the wrong by preaching morality; so I couldn't forgive Andrew for preaching immorality while he practised morality. You would all have grown up without principles, without any knowledge of right and wrong, if he had been in the house. You know, my dear, your father was a very attractive man in some ways. Children did not dislike him; and he took advantage of it to put the wickedest ideas into their heads, and make them quite unmanageable. I did not dislike him myself: very far from it; but nothing can bridge over moral disagreement. (1.67)

Lady Brit tells us quite early on that Andrew has his own unique philosophy and set of morals, which altogether create a "religion of wrongness."

Quote #2

Really, Barbara, you go on as if religion were a pleasant subject. Do have some sense of propriety. (1.237)

Lady Brit seems to think it's tacky or improper for her to talk so much about religion, but no one other than her seems to mind.

Quote #3

CUSINS: Excuse me: is there any place in your religion for honor, justice, truth, love, mercy and so forth?
UNDERSHAFT: Yes: they are the graces and luxuries of a rich, strong, and safe life. (2.232-233)

This must be that "religion of wrongness" that Lady Brit was talking about at the beginning of the play. It seems that, in Undershaft's view, power and money (particularly the latter) lay the groundwork for the kind of virtues that are traditionally associated with religion.