How we cite our quotes: (Line number)
Quote #4
Of avarice and of swich cursednesse
Is al my prechyng, for to make hem free
To yeven hir pens; and namely, unto me!
For myn entente is nat but for to wynne,
And no thyng for correccioun of synne. (114 – 116)
Here the Pardoner shows his hand, admitting that he preaches only about avarice not because he has a deep-seated belief about it being the most dangerous sin, or even any concern about sin at all. It's just a sin in which repentance means opening up your wallet—specifically to the Pardoner. Preaching only about sloth, e.g., might make people want to be more industrious, but wouldn't necessarily make them feel they had to be financially generous.
Quote #5
But though myself be gilty in that synne,
Yet kan I maken oother folk to twynne
From avarice, and soore to repente. (143 – 145)
Here the Pardoner reveals the extent to which his success depends on his manipulation of his audience's emotions. He talks about making people turn away from avarice and "soore to repente." The goal of his speech, then, is to make people feel emotions like shame and guilt so that they'll be willing to buy his pardons to escape from these emotions. This is the basis of advertising: creating emotions that will drive people to buy stuff.
Quote #6
Thanne telle I hem ensamples many oon
Of olde stories longe tyme agoon.
For lewed peple loven tales olde;
Swich thynges kan they wel reporte and holde. (149 – 152)
The final part of the Pardoner's performance relies upon his audience's taste for "tales olde." The Pardoner's intention is far from what it would be if he were a moral preacher. In that case he'd tell stories to teach faith lessons. But here he tells them because he knows that his audience will remember them and repeat them, thus providing good advertising for him. Creating nostalgia—another advertising trick.