Devil Quote by Arthur Koestler
““Satan, on the contrary, is thin, ascetic and a fanatical devotee of logic. He reads Machiavelli, Ignatius of Loyola, Marx and Hegel; he is cold and unmerciful to mankind, out of a kind of mathematical mercifulness. He is damned always to do that which is most repugnant to him: to become a slaughterer, in order to abolish slaughtering, to sacrifice lambs so that no more lambs may be slaughtered, to whip people with knouts so that they may learn not to let themselves be whipped, to strip himself of every scruple in the name of a higher scrupulousness, and to challenge the hatred of mankind because of his love for it--an abstract and geometric love.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Darkness at Noon, Arthur Koestler, 1940
A critique of rationalist extremism that justifies cruelty under the guise of higher logic and abstract love.
In simple terms: Logic can mask cruelty when detached from humanity.
Key Takeaway
Beware of abstract rationalizations that harm people.
Themes
ethics
logic
humanity
extremism
Mood
cautious
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- ethical debates
- human rights advocacy
- education
- leadership
Key Concepts
Moral philosophy
psychology
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Can logic ever be truly detached from moral feeling?
- How do we balance abstract ideals with human compassion?
A Different Perspective
Such rationalism may ignore emotional and contextual nuances, leading to harmful outcomes.
