Down there,” he said, “are people who will follow any…
““Down there,” he said, “are people who will follow any dragon, worship any god, ignore any iniquity. All out of a kind of humdrum, everyday badness. Not the really high, creative loathesomeness of the great sinners, but a sort of mass-produced darkness of the soul. Sin, you might say, without a trace of originality. They accept evil not because they say yes, but because they don’t say no. I’m sorry if this offends you,””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
People often follow beliefs or commit evil without originality, accepting darkness passively rather than actively rejecting it.
In simple terms: Blindly following or accepting evil lacks originality.
Key Takeaway
Question and reject harmful norms.
Themes
morality
conformity
originality
evil
faith
Mood
cynical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- social activism
- ethical education
- media consumption
Key Concepts
dogmatism
passivity
mass culture
spirituality
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives people to accept harmful ideas without question?
- How can originality be fostered in moral choices?
A Different Perspective
Passive acceptance can be rationalized as harmless.