I am content to be hated, and bloody, and outnumbered. For…
““I am content to be hated, and bloody, and outnumbered. For in this sickened world, it is better to believe in something too fiercely than to believe in nothing." Words, words, wonderful words. But lies too. "No, it isn’t!" shouted Mosca the Housefly, Quillam Mye’s daughter. "Not if what you’re believin’ isn’t blinkin’ well True! You shouldn’t just go believin’ things for no reason, pertickly if you got a sword in your hand! Sacred just means something you’re not meant to think about properly, an’ you should never stop thinking! Show me something I can kick, and hit with rocks, and set fire to, and leave out in the rain, and think about, and if it’s still standing after all that then maybe, just maybe, I’ll start to believe in it, but not till then. An’ if all we’re left with is muck and wickedness and no gods, then we’d better face it and get used to it because it’s better than a lie.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage argues that fierce belief, even in harsh or violent contexts, is preferable to nihilism, urging confronting reality through action and skepticism.
In simple terms: Strong belief beats emptiness.
Key Takeaway
Act, test, then believe.
Themes
belief
skepticism
action
resilience
nihilism
Mood
defiant
reflective
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- political upheaval
- war zones
- social movements
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence would change your belief?
- How do you balance action with reflection?
A Different Perspective
Belief without evidence can lead to fanaticism.