with him to sign the confession. John had to make the decision to either, live a lie and disgrace his family, or die with pride and a clean name. To John, it was a choice of the lesser of evils. To his religion, God damns all liars and as Hale says, "Life, ...is God's most precious gift; no principal however glorious, may justify the taking of it... Quail not before God's judgment in this, for it may well be God damns a liar less than he throws his life away for pride."
             However, John Proctor was not just rebelling against their power to spite them, he was becoming an example for his children and neighbors. John knew that the whirling accusation of witchery and contact with the Devil was not the moralistic, pure way of living a Christian life. John Proctor also knew that God saw his sins, and that it should not matter what others believe of him, since God was the only true ruler of their world. "Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are!" By giving up his life for the truth in God's eyes and in his societies' eyes, John was taking on outcomes that are more tragic. He was willing to die for his pride, his family's dignity, and his love for God. In doing so, he is keeping his sense of personal dignity so that he can gain his rightful place in society. He also can die knowing that his family name is preserved with pride and his children can grow up with a deeper love and respect for their father. When John was looking for forgiveness and guidance from Elizabeth, she would tell him that she could not judge him, for it is not her place to do so. She tells him that he has to make the decisions for himself, then whatever they may be, they are from a good man's heart. "John, it come to naught that I should forgive you, if you'll not forgive yourself. It is not my soul, ...