Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” is a masterpiece of psychological horror that explores the depths of human guilt and insanity.
The story is narrated by an untitled protagonist who becomes smitten with an old man’s eye and eventually commits a chilling murder.
The “Tell-Tale Heart quotes” capture the fierce emotions and twisted logic of the narrator, which provides a haunting peek into the disturbed mind. These quotes not just convey the narrator’s inner turmoil and justification for his actions but also explore wider themes of sanity, fixation, and the effects of guilt.
Top Tell-Tale Heart Quotes
“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe is a timeless exploration of madness, obsession, and guilt. The following quotes capture the essence of this chilling tale, reflecting the intensity and psychological depth of Poe’s writing.
“It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“True!—nervous—very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“He had the eye of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“Villains! I shrieked, ‘dissemble no more! I admit the deed!—tear up the planks!—here, here!—it is the beating of his hideous heart!'” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the senses?” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“It was open—wide, wide open—and I grew furious as I gazed upon it.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I undid the lantern cautiously—oh, so cautiously—cautiously (for the hinges creaked)—I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“It grew louder—louder—louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I smiled, for what had I to fear?” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
Also Read:Stalker Quotes (with Commentary)
Tell-Tale Heart Quotes on Guilt
Guilt is a central theme in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” driving the narrator to madness and ultimately his downfall. These quotes reflect the powerful and consuming nature of guilt as portrayed in Poe’s haunting narrative.
“The old man’s hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“And now have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the senses?” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“The ringing became more distinct—it continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling; but it continued and gained definiteness—until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“It grew louder—louder—louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not?” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I felt that I must scream or die!—and now—again!—hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“Villains! I shrieked, ‘dissemble no more! I admit the deed!—tear up the planks!—here, here!—it is the beating of his hideous heart!'” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I smiled, for what had I to fear?” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“The disease had sharpened my senses—not destroyed—not dulled them.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I admit the deed!—tear up the planks!—here, here!—it is the beating of his hideous heart!” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
Tell-Tale Heart Quotes on Madness
Madness is the driving force behind the narrator’s actions in “The Tell-Tale Heart.” These quotes highlight the descent into insanity, revealing the fragility of the human mind when consumed by irrational thoughts.
“True!—nervous—very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“The disease had sharpened my senses—not destroyed—not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“And now have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the senses?” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad?” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“He had the eye of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“It was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I smiled, for what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
Tell-Tale Heart Quotes on Paranoia
Paranoia is intricately woven into the fabric of “The Tell-Tale Heart,” as the narrator’s obsessive thoughts spiral into uncontrollable fear. These quotes illustrate the intense paranoia that drives the narrator to his breaking point.
“I undid the lantern cautiously—oh, so cautiously—cautiously (for the hinges creaked)—I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it—oh so gently!” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“It grew louder—louder—louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“The ringing became more distinct—it continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling; but it continued and gained definiteness.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I felt that I must scream or die!—and now—again!—hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“He was sitting up in bed listening;—just as I have done, night after night, hearkening to the death watches in the wall.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“Villains! I shrieked, ‘dissemble no more! I admit the deed!—tear up the planks!—here, here!—it is the beating of his hideous heart!'” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiously—oh, so cautiously—cautiously.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
Tell-Tale Heart Quotes on Justification
In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” the narrator is driven to justify his actions, attempting to rationalize his madness and obsession. These quotes capture the twisted logic and desperate need for justification that characterizes his unraveling mind.
“True!—nervous—very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“You should have seen how wisely I proceeded—with what caution—with what foresight—with what dissimulation I went to work!” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“He had the eye of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it—oh so gently!” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“It was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I undid the lantern cautiously—oh, so cautiously—cautiously (for the hinges creaked)—I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the senses?” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
Tell-Tale Heart Quotes on Fear
Fear permeates every aspect of “The Tell-Tale Heart,” from the narrator’s own terror to the fear he inflicts on others. These quotes delve into the pervasive sense of dread that drives the story’s chilling atmosphere.
“I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“He was sitting up in bed listening;—just as I have done, night after night, hearkening to the death watches in the wall.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“The old man’s hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“It was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“He had been trying to fancy them causeless, but could not.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I felt that I must scream or die!—and now—again!—hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“It was open—wide, wide open—and I grew furious as I gazed upon it.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I felt that I must scream or die!” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not?” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
Tell-Tale Heart Quotes on Obsession
Obsession drives the narrator of “The Tell-Tale Heart” to extremes, illustrating how fixation can distort perception and lead to irrevocable actions. These quotes dive deep into the heart of obsession, showcasing its grip on the narrator’s mind.
“It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“He had the eye of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it—oh so gently!” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“And this I did for seven long nights—every night just at midnight—but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door. A watch’s minute hand moves more quickly than did mine.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I undid the lantern cautiously—oh, so cautiously—cautiously (for the hinges creaked)—I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“When I had waited a long time, very patiently, without hearing him lie down, I resolved to open a little—a very, very little crevice in the lantern.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“No human eye—not even his—could have detected anything wrong.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
Tell-Tale Heart Quotes on Reality vs. Illusion
In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” the lines between reality and illusion blur, as the narrator’s sanity unravels. These quotes explore this theme, reflecting the uncertainty and deceit within the narrator’s mind.
“You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“The disease had sharpened my senses—not destroyed—not dulled them.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“And now at the dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“For what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“They heard!—they suspected!—they knew!—they were making a mockery of my horror!” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision!” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die!” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“It grew louder, I say, louder every moment!—do you mark me well? I have told you that I am nervous: so I am.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
“Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men—but the noise steadily increased.” – Edgar Allan Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
Tell-Tale Heart Quotes on Hearing
In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Edgar Allan Poe masterfully uses the motif of hearing to amplify the psychological tension and the narrator’s growing paranoia. These quotes explore how acute hearing becomes a central element of the narrative, enhancing the suspense and horror.
“The disease had sharpened my senses—not destroyed—not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad?” – Edgar Allan Poe
“And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it—oh so gently! And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, so that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“It was a low, dull, quick sound—much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart. I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first slight noise when he had turned in the bed.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of pain or of grief—oh, no!—it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“The ringing became more distinct: —it continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness—until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“It grew louder—louder—louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not?” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I say I knew it well. I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart. I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first slight noise when he had turned in the bed.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men—but the noise steadily increased.” – Edgar Allan Poe
Tell-Tale Heart Quotes on Time
Time in “The Tell-Tale Heart” serves as a crucial element, emphasizing the narrator’s descent into madness and the meticulous planning of his crime. These quotes illustrate how the passage of time is manipulated to create a sense of impending doom.
“It was about midnight, and I took the precaution of opening the lantern cautiously—oh, so cautiously—cautiously (for the hinges creaked).” – Edgar Allan Poe
“Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door. A watch’s minute hand moves more quickly than did mine.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he has passed the night.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiously—oh, so cautiously—cautiously.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I had waited a long time, very patiently, without hearing him lie down.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“For a whole hour I did not move a muscle, and in the meantime I did not hear him lie down.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every instant.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“Oh God! What could I do? I foamed—I raved—I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“But even yet I refrained and kept still. I scarcely breathed. I held the lantern motionless.” – Edgar Allan Poe
Tell-Tale Heart Quotes on Conscience
In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Edgar Allan Poe delves deep into the complexities of the human conscience, illustrating its powerful influence and the inescapable guilt that follows wrongdoing. These quotes reveal the narrator’s internal struggle and the torment inflicted by his own conscience.
“Villains! I shrieked, ‘dissemble no more! I admit the deed!—tear up the planks!—here, here!—it is the beating of his hideous heart!'” – Edgar Allan Poe
“It grew louder, louder, louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? Oh, mighty God!—no, no! They heard!—they suspected!—they knew!—they were making a mockery of my horror!” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“The ringing became more distinct:—It continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness—until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men—but the noise steadily increased.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I foamed—I raved—I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I say I knew it well. I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“It was not a groan of pain or of grief—oh, no!—it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision!” – Edgar Allan Poe
“Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men—but the noise steadily increased.” – Edgar Allan Poe
Tell-Tale Heart Quotes on Mortality
Poe’s exploration of mortality in “The Tell-Tale Heart” presents a grim and introspective look at life and death, underscored by the narrator’s actions and his subsequent psychological unraveling. These quotes touch on the inevitability of death and the permanence of one’s actions.
“Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of pain or of grief—oh, no!—it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“The old man’s hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“And now a new anxiety seized me—the sound would be heard by a neighbor! The old man’s hour had come!” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done. But for many minutes, the heart beat on with a muffled sound.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“It was a low, dull, quick sound—much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“And now at the dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first slight noise when he had turned in the bed.” – Edgar Allan Poe
“His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness, (for the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers).” – Edgar Allan Poe
“He was still sitting up in the bed listening;—just as I have done, night after night, hearkening to the death watches in the wall.” – Edgar Allan Poe
Also Read: Crazy People Quotes (with Commentary)
Final Thoughts
“Tell-Tale Heart quotes” resonate with the power of Edgar Allan Poe’s capacity to explore the darkest corners of the human mind.
Through the narrator’s words, Poe skillfully conveys the suffocating weight of guilt and the consuming nature of insanity.
Each quote from the story act as a reminder of the thin line between sanity and madness and the overwhelming force of one’s conscience.