--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The headmaster thought he was possessed…" description: "\"“The headmaster thought he was possessed by the devil because he recited Marx in German during mass.\" \"A clear sign of possession,\" Fermin agreed.”\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/carlos-ruiz-zafon-126_quote_the-headmaster-thought-he-was-possessed_1810559.jpg" --- # The headmaster thought he was possessed by the devil… ![“The headmaster thought he was possessed by the devil because he recited Marx in German during mass." "A clear sign of possession," Fermin agreed.” quote by Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/carlos-ruiz-zafon-126_quote_the-headmaster-thought-he-was-possessed_1810559.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/carlos-ruiz-zafon-126_quote_the-headmaster-thought-he-was-possessed_1810559.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/carlos-ruiz-zafon-126_quote_the-headmaster-thought-he-was-possessed_1810559.jpg) > ““The headmaster thought he was possessed by the devil because he recited Marx in German during mass." "A clear sign of possession," Fermin agreed.”” [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A humorous anecdote about a headmaster’s over‑the‑top reaction to a student reciting Marx in German during mass, highlighting absurdity of suspicion. **In simple terms:** A headmaster overreacts to a student quoting Marx in German. Key Takeaway Don’t jump to conclusions without context. Themes absurdity religion politics education Mood ironic playful Type anecdotal satirical When to use this quote - school setting - religious ceremony - political discussion - family dinner Key Concepts cultural clash misinterpretation authority satire Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions do we make about “dangerous” ideas? - How does humor defuse tension? A Different Perspective The joke may rely on cultural specifics that not all readers share. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devil Recited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil-recited-2110765/) [Headmaster Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/headmaster-thought-2110766/) [Possessed Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessed-devil-1201747/) [Possession Fermin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession-fermin-2110767/) [Recited Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recited-marx-2110764/) ## Related quotes > [I went with an exorcist for a bit. I just want to know really practical things, like how do you hold someone possessed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-went-with-an-exorcist-for-a-bit-i-just-want-to-know-really/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [He that is possessed with a prejudice is possessed with a devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/he-that-is-possessed-with-a-prejudice-is-possessed-with-a-devil/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [The devil's spirit's trapped inside me. My soul is possessed by this devil my new name is Rain Man. So I keep conjuring (demons),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/the-devil-s-spirit-s-trapped-inside-me-my-soul-is-possessed-by-this/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [I used to watch a lot of documentaries about Satanic possession - and I don't know if this is racist or not - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/i-used-to-watch-a-lot-of-documentaries-about-satanic-possession-and-i/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [He that is possessed with a prejudice is possessed with a devil, and one of the worst kinds of devils, for it shuts out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/he-that-is-possessed-with-a-prejudice-is-possessed-with-a-devil-and/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [I remember my parents taking me to see 'The Exorcist' in theaters when I was really young. They're Cuban and didn't really speak English,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-diaz/i-remember-my-parents-taking-me-to-see-the-exorcist-in-theaters-when/) [Guillermo Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-diaz/) > [“It's very easy to detect the possessed by the devil for they smile right after each evil action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/it-s-very-easy-to-detect-the-possessed-by-the-devil-for-they-smile/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [“And what if ever on some distant day a memory comes to you of an old familiar whiff or the sound of dogs barking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/and-what-if-ever-on-some-distant-day-a-memory-comes-to-you-of-an-old/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [“People talk and rumors follow,” I said. “Most people claim that only a person possessed of the devil could write such horror.” “And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-barger/people-talk-and-rumors-follow-i-said-most-people-claim-that-only-a/) [Andrew Barger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-barger/) > [“He was a cat of double personality - or else, as Susan vowed, he was possessed by the devil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/he-was-a-cat-of-double-personality-or-else-as-susan-vowed-he-was/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [Imagine that you're a gay man and you're spending all your time with people who believe you are possessed by the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/imagine-that-you-re-a-gay-man-and-you-re-spending-all-your-time-with/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [My soul is possessed by this devil my new name is Rain Man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/my-soul-is-possessed-by-this-devil-my-new-name-is-rain-man/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [To possess money is very well; it may be a valuable servant; to be possessed by it is to be possessed by the devil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/to-possess-money-is-very-well-it-may-be-a-valuable-servant-to-be/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [A young man had become possessed by a devil. The thing within him burst into loud lamentation and departed from the man. At once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/a-young-man-had-become-possessed-by-a-devil-the-thing-within-him/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [For centuries, epilepsy was the exact expectation of someone being possessed by the Devil. There was no better explanation, and it allows you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/for-centuries-epilepsy-was-the-exact-expectation-of-someone-being/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More by Carlos Ruiz Zafón > [“Our world will not die as a result of the bomb, as the papers say, it will die of laughter, of banality, of making a joke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/our-world-will-not-die-as-a-result-of-the-bomb-as-the-papers-say-it/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“I carried the trace of her lips, of her breath on my skin through streets full of faceless people escaping from offices and shops.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/i-carried-the-trace-of-her-lips-of-her-breath-on-my-skin-through/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“Nekada davno, u djetinjstvu, možda is toga što sam odrastao među knjigama i knjižarima, odlučio sam da želim postati pisac i živjeti životom punim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/nekada-davno-u-djetinjstvu-mo-da-is-toga-to-sam-odrastao-me-u/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“nations never see themselves clearly in the mirror, much less when war preys on their minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/nations-never-see-themselves-clearly-in-the-mirror-much-less-when-war/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [People might not agree with me, but I think a woman should have a feminine shape, something you can get your hands on. You,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/people-might-not-agree-with-me-but-i-think-a-woman-should-have-a/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“But I couldn't absorb the idea that death could actually walk by my side, with a human face and a heart that was poisoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/but-i-couldn-t-absorb-the-idea-that-death-could-actually-walk-by-my/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“Wise men think and speak alike.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/wise-men-think-and-speak-alike/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“Time plays for the other team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/time-plays-for-the-other-team/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Once I'd worked out that I couldn't possibly expect people to enjoy a monstrous, 3000-page book, I realised I could in fact create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/once-i-d-worked-out-that-i-couldn-t-possibly-expect-people-to-enjoy-a/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [The haunting of history is ever present in Barcelona. I see cities as organisms, as living creatures. To me, Madrid is a man and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/the-haunting-of-history-is-ever-present-in-barcelona-i-see-cities-as/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Waiting is the rust of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/waiting-is-the-rust-of-the-soul/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“The main pillar of organized religion, with few exceptions, is the subjugation, repression, even the annulment of women in the group. Woman must accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/the-main-pillar-of-organized-religion-with-few-exceptions-is-the/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“Bea says that the art of reading is slowly dying, that it's an intimate ritual, that a book is a mirror that offers us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/bea-says-that-the-art-of-reading-is-slowly-dying-that-it-s-an/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Human beings believe just as they breathe - in order to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/human-beings-believe-just-as-they-breathe-in-order-to-survive/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“Darwin was a dreamer, I can assure you. No evolution or anything of the sort. For every one who can reason, I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/darwin-was-a-dreamer-i-can-assure-you-no-evolution-or-anything-of-the/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) [Explore all 785 Carlos Ruiz Zafón quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) ## More Possessed Devil quotes > [I went with an exorcist for a bit. I just want to know really practical things, like how do you hold someone possessed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-went-with-an-exorcist-for-a-bit-i-just-want-to-know-really/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [A young man had become possessed by a devil. The thing within him burst into loud lamentation and departed from the man. At once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/a-young-man-had-become-possessed-by-a-devil-the-thing-within-him/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [To possess money is very well; it may be a valuable servant; to be possessed by it is to be possessed by the devil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/to-possess-money-is-very-well-it-may-be-a-valuable-servant-to-be/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [My soul is possessed by this devil my new name is Rain Man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/my-soul-is-possessed-by-this-devil-my-new-name-is-rain-man/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [Imagine that you're a gay man and you're spending all your time with people who believe you are possessed by the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/imagine-that-you-re-a-gay-man-and-you-re-spending-all-your-time-with/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“He was a cat of double personality - or else, as Susan vowed, he was possessed by the devil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/he-was-a-cat-of-double-personality-or-else-as-susan-vowed-he-was/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“People talk and rumors follow,” I said. “Most people claim that only a person possessed of the devil could write such horror.” “And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-barger/people-talk-and-rumors-follow-i-said-most-people-claim-that-only-a/) [Andrew Barger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-barger/) > [“And what if ever on some distant day a memory comes to you of an old familiar whiff or the sound of dogs barking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/and-what-if-ever-on-some-distant-day-a-memory-comes-to-you-of-an-old/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [“It's very easy to detect the possessed by the devil for they smile right after each evil action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/it-s-very-easy-to-detect-the-possessed-by-the-devil-for-they-smile/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [I remember my parents taking me to see 'The Exorcist' in theaters when I was really young. They're Cuban and didn't really speak English,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-diaz/i-remember-my-parents-taking-me-to-see-the-exorcist-in-theaters-when/) [Guillermo Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-diaz/) > [He that is possessed with a prejudice is possessed with a devil, and one of the worst kinds of devils, for it shuts out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/he-that-is-possessed-with-a-prejudice-is-possessed-with-a-devil-and/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [I used to watch a lot of documentaries about Satanic possession - and I don't know if this is racist or not - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/i-used-to-watch-a-lot-of-documentaries-about-satanic-possession-and-i/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The devil's spirit's trapped inside me. My soul is possessed by this devil my new name is Rain Man. So I keep conjuring (demons),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/the-devil-s-spirit-s-trapped-inside-me-my-soul-is-possessed-by-this/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [He that is possessed with a prejudice is possessed with a devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/he-that-is-possessed-with-a-prejudice-is-possessed-with-a-devil/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [For centuries, epilepsy was the exact expectation of someone being possessed by the Devil. There was no better explanation, and it allows you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/for-centuries-epilepsy-was-the-exact-expectation-of-someone-being/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) [Browse all 20 Possessed Devil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessed-devil-1201747/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The headmaster thought he was possessed by the devil because he recited Marx in German during mass.\" \"A clear sign of possession,\" Fermin agreed.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carlos Ruiz Zafón" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/the-headmaster-thought-he-was-possessed-by-the-devil-because-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Possessed Devil" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/the-headmaster-thought-he-was-possessed-by-the-devil-because-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/carlos-ruiz-zafon-126_quote_the-headmaster-thought-he-was-possessed_1810559.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/carlos-ruiz-zafon-126_quote_the-headmaster-thought-he-was-possessed_1810559.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/carlos-ruiz-zafon-126_quote_the-headmaster-thought-he-was-possessed_1810559.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The headmaster thought he was possessed by the devil because he recited Marx in German during mass.\" \"A…” — Carlos Ruiz Zafón", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Carlos Ruiz Zafón", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The headmaster thought he was possessed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/the-headmaster-thought-he-was-possessed-by-the-devil-because-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/the-headmaster-thought-he-was-possessed-by-the-devil-because-he/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```