Faerie Quote by A.E. Coppard
““I am Shiloh, whose box you stole. Your godmother's sickness lies in your own keeping, you can heal her in a moment. Make me your slave, and I must do your will.' 'You can do this,' Sheila said, 'without my taking a gift from you; you are wise and skilled. O do it, sir, and I will bless your name for ever.' 'Pooh! what is the good of that?' said he. 'No, I serve a master, the King of Kings, but we are emptiness itself without your mortal alloy. Do as I bid and I will serve you like a queen. And if you fear me you have only to put me to sleep and I shall sleep for seven hundred years.' 'No,' said the tempted girl slowly, 'not even for godmother can I do this; you are full of evil. Lies, lies! Why do you lie so?' 'O,' Shiloh said, 'because I am weary, and dissimulation is stimulation.' 'I don't understand that.' 'Well, it is so.' He yawned and yawned. 'Besides, I am the Other Side of things. All you think good may be bad, all you think bad may be good.' 'And I don't understand that.' Shiloh replied: 'Strong meat for men and lily buds for maids; did Ajax feed on apples?' 'I beg your pardon, sir,' said Sheila.””
About This Quote
Source short story: “The Other Side” by A.E. Coppard, 1935
A dialogue explores moral ambiguity, power, and the fluidity of good and evil
In simple terms: Good and evil can switch roles; truth is elusive
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about morality and power
Themes
philosophy
ethics
mythology
Mood
thoughtful
enigmatic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- role‑playing games
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
moral relativism
power dynamics
illusion
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “the Other Side” represent in real life?
- How do we recognize when we are being manipulated?
A Different Perspective
The narrative’s fantastical tone may obscure practical insight
![“You came here [to this life] to enjoy the fullness of the creative experience. [Both smooth and rough patches]. In the process, any growth you experience adds to the growth of humanity as a whole. What better way could there be for humans to evolve than in an environment of [contrasting…” quote by Suzanne Giesemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a9e/suzanne-giesemann-28587_better-way_you-came-here-to-this-life-to-enjoy-the_1855397.jpg)
