--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In case you were wondering, it is…" description: "\"“In case you were wondering, it is preferable to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven—I’ve done both.”\" — Cassandra Clare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c7/cassandra-clare-9_quote_in-case-you-were-wondering-it-is-prefera_1123444.jpg" --- # In case you were wondering, it is preferable to rule in… ![“In case you were wondering, it is preferable to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven—I’ve done both.” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c7/cassandra-clare-9_quote_in-case-you-were-wondering-it-is-prefera_1123444.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c7/cassandra-clare-9_quote_in-case-you-were-wondering-it-is-prefera_1123444.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c7/cassandra-clare-9_quote_in-case-you-were-wondering-it-is-prefera_1123444.jpg) > ““In case you were wondering, it is preferable to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven—I’ve done both.”” [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prefers ruling in a bad situation over serving in a good one, implying power over subservience. **In simple terms:** Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven. Key Takeaway Choose agency over subordination. Themes power choice morality Mood reflective philosophical Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - career leadership - political roles - ethical decisions Key Concepts ethical dilemmas authority personal autonomy Questions to Reflect On - When is it acceptable to accept a lower position? - What are the costs of power? A Different Perspective Ruling may involve moral compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Hell Serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell-serve-272000/) [Preferable Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preferable-rule-3050551/) [Rule Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-hell-1154282/) [Serve Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serve-heaven-271999/) [Wondering Preferable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wondering-preferable-3050552/) ## Related quotes > [“better to rule in hell than serve in heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-goodman/better-to-rule-in-hell-than-serve-in-heaven/) [David A. Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-goodman/) > [“Some say it is better to rule in hell than serve in heaven. That is a defeatist attitude. I intend to rule everywhere, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/some-say-it-is-better-to-rule-in-hell-than-serve-in-heaven-that-is-a/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [“The choice of every lost soul can be expressed in the words "Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-choice-of-every-lost-soul-can-be-expressed-in-the-words-better-to-2/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/better-to-reign-in-hell-than-to-serve-in-heaven/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/better-to-reign-in-hell-than-serve-in-heaven/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The devil finds work for idle hands to do. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Careerism is the determination to reign in hell rather than serve in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/careerism-is-the-determination-to-reign-in-hell-rather-than-serve-in/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Better to reign in hell than serve in heav'n.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/better-to-reign-in-hell-than-serve-in-heav-n/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“You wanna be God? Go rule Hell, kid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/you-wanna-be-god-go-rule-hell-kid/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [“There is a rule in Hell: Don’t trust anyone who takes time out of their day to help you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-heffner/there-is-a-rule-in-hell-don-t-trust-anyone-who-takes-time-out-of/) [Heather Heffner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-heffner/) > [“Given he'd been punished for his pride, it was sort of a sick, twisted joke. You wanna be God? Go rule Hell, kid. His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/given-he-d-been-punished-for-his-pride-it-was-sort-of-a-sick-twisted/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [“...we're dealing with two devils who both want to rule hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/we-re-dealing-with-two-devils-who-both-want-to-rule-hell/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [You know a multicolor God who created this world is not going to put us in a white heaven. I guarantee you. But we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/you-know-a-multicolor-god-who-created-this-world-is-not-going-to-put/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## More by Cassandra Clare > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Lex malla, lex nulla,” said Julian with a regretful wave of his hand. It was the Blackthorn family motto: A bad law is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/lex-malla-lex-nulla-said-julian-with-a-regretful-wave-of-his-hand-it/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm memorable, its true." -Magnus, pg.229-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-memorable-its-true-magnus-pg-229/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“There is more to living than not dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Unless there was a reason for me to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/unless-there-was-a-reason-for-me-to-stay/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Love didn't make you weak, it made you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-didn-t-make-you-weak-it-made-you-stronger/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Explore all 4,049 Cassandra Clare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More Hell quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“Hell is only loneliness, a place without play for the soul, a place without God. How could there be God in loneliness when God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/hell-is-only-loneliness-a-place-without-play-for-the-soul-a-place/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [Just when I thought that I was gtting better, boy was I wrong.. Things just turned to hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cupecake/just-when-i-thought-that-i-was-gtting-better-boy-was-i-wrong-things/) [Cupecake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cupecake/) > [I believe that on any trip to heaven, there are always detours through hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-finney/i-believe-that-on-any-trip-to-heaven-there-are-always-detours-through/) [Richard Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-finney/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I'm what is known as gradually disintegrating. I don't fear the next world, or anything. I don't fear hell, and I don't look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-m-what-is-known-as-gradually-disintegrating-i-don-t-fear-the-next/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Hey...Hey...What's up?. Nothing much, you? Nothing. K!..What the hell was the point of this communication?...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hey-hey-what-s-up-nothing-much-you-nothing-k-what-the-hell-was-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Except in these latter-day songs, \[Bob\] Dylan is a grizzled old prophet who's already been to hell and back. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/except-in-these-latter-day-songs-bob-dylan-is-a-grizzled-old-prophet/) [Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“ALAS, IF ALL HUMANS WERE WISE AND HAD MORE GOOD WILL THE WORLD WOULD BE A PARADISE NOW IT IS MOSTLY A HELL”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/alas-if-all-humans-were-wise-and-had-more-good-will-the-world-would/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [It is through suppression that hells are formed in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/it-is-through-suppression-that-hells-are-formed-in-us/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. 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