Business Quote by Algernon Blackwood
““Certain houses, like certain persons, manage somehow to proclaim at once their character for evil. In the case of the latter, no particular feature need betray them; they may boast an open countenance and an ingenuous smile; and yet a little of their company leaves the unalterable conviction that there is something radically amiss with their being: that they are evil. Willy nilly, they seem to communicate an atmosphere of secret and wicked thoughts which makes those in their immediate neighbourhood shrink from them as from a thing diseased.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Willows” by Algernon Blackwood, 1907
Evil can be sensed through an unsettling atmosphere even without obvious signs, causing instinctive aversion.
In simple terms: Evil feels off even if it looks normal.
Key Takeaway
Trust intuition about harmful people.
Themes
perception
intuition
evil
social aversion
Mood
uneasy
cautious
Type
observational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- meeting new acquaintances
- working with colleagues
- entering unfamiliar neighborhoods
- evaluating strangers
Key Concepts
psychology
atmosphere
moral judgement
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize hidden malice?
- When might intuition mislead you?
A Different Perspective
Evil may be misread; intuition can be biased.
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