The Phantom Tollbooth
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1. Milo Chapter 2. Beyond Expectations Chapter 3. Welcome to Dictionopolis Chapter 4. Confusion in the Market Place Chapter 5. Short Shrift Chapter 6. Faintly Macabre’s Story Chapter 7. The Royal Banquet Chapter 8. The Humbug Volunteers Chapter 9. It’s All in How You Look at Things Chapter 10. A Colorful Symphony Chapter 11. Dischord and Dynne Chapter 12. The Silent Valley Chapter 13. Unfortunate Conclusions Chapter 14. The Dodecahedron Leads the Way Chapter 15. This Way to Infinity Chapter 16. A Very Dirty Bird Chapter 17. Unwelcoming Committee Chapter 18. Castle in the Air Chapter 19. The Return of Rhyme and Reason Chapter 20. Good-by and Hello
Themes
All Themes Knowledge, Learning, and the Purpose of Education Language, Wordplay, Fun, and Logic Boredom, Beauty, and Modern Life Absurdity vs. Reason
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Milo Tock The Humbug King Azaz the Unabridged The Mathemagician Princess of Sweet Rhyme Princess of Pure Reason The Soundkeeper Officer Shrift Faintly Macabre Alec Bings The Whether Man The Lethargians The Spelling Bee The Giant, Midget, Thin Man, and Fat Man Dr. Kakofonous A. Dischord The DYNNE Canby The Dodecahedron The Child Terrible Trivium The Demon of Insincerity The Gelatinous Giant The Official Senses Taker
Symbols
All Symbols The Castle in the Air The Tollbooth Gifts Time/Tock’s Alarm Clock
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The Phantom Tollbooth

by

Norton Juster
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The Demon of Insincerity Character Analysis

The Demon of Insincerity at first seems helpful; he guides Milo and his friends through deep sludge. But once Milo, Tock, and the Humbug fall into a pit, the demon says he loves to give bad advice and has no intention of helping anyone. He introduces himself as a huge, frightening monster capable of keeping his prisoners in the pit—but with his telescope, Milo is able to see that the demon is actually small, cute, and nonthreatening.

The Demon of Insincerity Quotes in The Phantom Tollbooth

The The Phantom Tollbooth quotes below are all either spoken by The Demon of Insincerity or refer to The Demon of Insincerity. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Knowledge, Learning, and the Purpose of Education Theme Icon
).
Chapter 17. Unwelcoming Committee Quotes

“I’m the demon of insincerity,” he sobbed. I don’t mean what I say, I don’t mean what I do, and I don’t mean what I am. Most people who believe what I tell them go the wrong way, and stay there, but you and your awful telescope have spoiled everything. I’m going home.” And, crying hysterically, he stamped off in a huff.

“It certainly pays to have a good look at things,” observed Milo as he wrapped up the telescope with great care.

Related Characters: Milo (speaker), The Demon of Insincerity (speaker), Tock, The Humbug, Princess of Sweet Rhyme, Princess of Pure Reason, Alec Bings
Related Symbols: Gifts
Knowledge, Learning, and the Purpose of Education Theme Icon
Absurdity vs. Reason Theme Icon
Page Number: 217
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Demon of Insincerity Quotes in The Phantom Tollbooth

The The Phantom Tollbooth quotes below are all either spoken by The Demon of Insincerity or refer to The Demon of Insincerity. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Knowledge, Learning, and the Purpose of Education Theme Icon
).
Chapter 17. Unwelcoming Committee Quotes

“I’m the demon of insincerity,” he sobbed. I don’t mean what I say, I don’t mean what I do, and I don’t mean what I am. Most people who believe what I tell them go the wrong way, and stay there, but you and your awful telescope have spoiled everything. I’m going home.” And, crying hysterically, he stamped off in a huff.

“It certainly pays to have a good look at things,” observed Milo as he wrapped up the telescope with great care.

Related Characters: Milo (speaker), The Demon of Insincerity (speaker), Tock, The Humbug, Princess of Sweet Rhyme, Princess of Pure Reason, Alec Bings
Related Symbols: Gifts
Knowledge, Learning, and the Purpose of Education Theme Icon
Absurdity vs. Reason Theme Icon
Page Number: 217
Explanation and Analysis:
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