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When asked how he could tell the difference, the saint…

“When asked how he could tell the difference, the saint said that you can only tell which is which by the way you feel after the creature has left your company. If you are appalled, he said, then it was a devil who had visited you. If you feel lightened, it was an angel.” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert
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““When asked how he could tell the difference, the saint said that you can only tell which is which by the way you feel after the creature has left your company. If you are appalled, he said, then it was a devil who had visited you. If you feel lightened, it was an angel.””

Elizabeth Gilbert

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Moral character is judged by the lingering feeling after an encounter: discomfort signals evil, uplift signals good.

In simple terms: You know right from wrong by how you feel afterward.

Key Takeaway

Trust your emotional response to gauge character.

Themes

ethics intuition spirituality

Mood

introspective thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • personal relationships
  • decision making
  • self‑reflection

Key Concepts

moral philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What feeling do you trust most when assessing others?
  • Can a good deed ever feel unsettling?
A Different Perspective

Feelings can be misleading or culturally conditioned.

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