I am always astonished by hypocritical and showy piety; someone who does not fear God, why would they fear a mere human being?

In this sharp yet thoughtful couplet, the poet takes aim at hypocritical piety—virtue practiced purely for social show. The underlying irony cuts deep: if someone holds no genuine reverence or awe for the Divine in their heart, why would they sincerely care about moral duty toward fellow mortals? It warmly reminds us that true spirituality lives in quiet, honest humility, whereas ostentatious righteousness is usually just a mask worn to manipulate the world.