Progress in evil was quick and easy; Apollyon was not a…
““Progress in evil was quick and easy; Apollyon was not a chap who hid himself and he gave every assistance in his power. The growth in goodness was so slow, at times so flat, so dull, and like the White Queen one had to run so fast to stay where one was, let alone progress; and there were few men who dared to say they had found God. It was easy to be a clever sinner, for the race to an earthly visible goal was short to run, so impossibly hard to be a wise saint, with the goal set at so vast a distance from this world and clouded with such uncertainty.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Goodness grows slowly and laboriously, while evil advances quickly; achieving saintliness feels distant and uncertain compared to the ease of sin.
In simple terms: Being good is hard and slow; being bad is easy and fast.
Key Takeaway
Embrace patience on the moral path.
Themes
morality
spirituality
effort
temptation
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- ethical decisions
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
virtue
sin
spiritual journey
Questions to Reflect On
- What motivates you to pursue virtue despite difficulty?
- How can societies support slow, steady moral progress?
A Different Perspective
The slow pace may discourage perseverance.