The real thing about evil," said the Witch at the doorway…
“The real thing about evil," said the Witch at the doorway, "isn't any of what you said. You figure out one side of it - the human side, say - and the eternal side goes into shadow. Or vice versa. It's like the old saw: What does a dragon in its shell look like? Well no one can ever tell, for as soon as you break the shell to see, the dragon is no longer in its shell. The real disaster of this inquiry is that it is the nature of evil to be secret.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Evil comprises hidden, dual aspects; revealing one side exposes the other, making its true nature unknowable.
In simple terms: Evil has hidden sides; revealing one changes it.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty in moral judgments.
Themes
evil
philosophy
duality
Mood
thoughtful
enigmatic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- ethical dilemmas
- literary analysis
- personal moral reflection
Key Concepts
secrecy
metaphor
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the dragon metaphor suggest about confronting evil?
- Can evil ever be fully understood?
A Different Perspective
Understanding may be limited by secrecy.