Devil Quote by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
““And which devil do you prefer? Dante's?" "No. Much too terrifying. Too medieval for my taste." "Mephistopheles?" "Not him, either. He's too pleased with himself. Too much a trickster, like a crooked lawyer ... Anyway, I never trust people who smile a lot." "What about the one in The Karamazovs?" "Petty. A civil servant with dirty nails. I suppose the devil I prefer is Milton's fallen angel.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Club Dumas, Arturo Pérez‑Reverte, 1993
He critiques various depictions of the devil, preferring Milton’s fallen angel over other literary versions.
In simple terms: He dislikes many devil characters and likes Milton’s version best.
Choose role models that align with your values.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- reading clubs
- creative writing
- film criticism
- psychology discussions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Which literary devil resonates most with you?
- Why do you distrust overly cheerful people?
Preference is subjective; no single depiction captures the devil’s complexity.