--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Jem raised his hand, and his witchlight…" description: "\"“Jem raised his hand, and his witchlight flared into life, frightening a group of blackbeetles. They scurried across the floor, causing Will to grimace..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/cassandra-clare-9_demon_jem-raised-his-hand-and-his-witchlight-f_2638898.jpg" --- # Jem raised his hand, and his witchlight flared into life… ![“Jem raised his hand, and his witchlight flared into life, frightening a group of blackbeetles. They scurried across the floor, causing Will to grimace. “Nice place to live, isn’t it? Let’s hope they left something behind other than filth. Forwarding addresses, a few severed limbs, a prostitute or…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/cassandra-clare-9_demon_jem-raised-his-hand-and-his-witchlight-f_2638898.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/cassandra-clare-9_demon_jem-raised-his-hand-and-his-witchlight-f_2638898.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/cassandra-clare-9_demon_jem-raised-his-hand-and-his-witchlight-f_2638898.jpg) > ““Jem raised his hand, and his witchlight flared into life, frightening a group of blackbeetles. They scurried across the floor, causing Will to grimace. “Nice place to live, isn’t it? Let’s hope they left something behind other than filth. Forwarding addresses, a few severed limbs, a prostitute or two…” “Indeed. Perhaps, if we’re fortunate, we can still catch syphilis.” “Or demon pox,” Will suggested cheerfully, trying the door under the stairs. It swung open, unlocked as the front door had been. “There’s always demon pox.” “Demon pox does not exist.” “Oh ye of little faith,” said Will, disappearing into the darkness under the stairs.”” [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. Characters confront grotesque creatures and disease, using dark humor to highlight survival amid decay and moral ambiguity. **In simple terms:** Dark humor masks grim reality of disease and decay. Key Takeaway Use humor to cope with harsh realities. Themes survival dark humor decay morality disease Mood grim ironic macabre Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - horror storytelling - creative writing - mental health coping - social commentary Key Concepts existential dread social satire psychological coping Questions to Reflect On - What does the “demon pox” symbolize? - How does humor affect our perception of danger? A Different Perspective Humor can trivialize suffering if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) [Demon pox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon-pox/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Little faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-faith/) ## Related quotes > [Demon pox. There's always demon pox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/demon-pox-there-s-always-demon-pox/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Will: "Nice place to live, isn't it? Let's hope they left something behind other than filth. Forwarding addresses, a few severed limbs, a prostitute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-nice-place-to-live-isn-t-it-let-s-hope-they-left-something/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Will: Have you ever seen what happens to someone with demon pox? First it lies dormant. One begins to turn yellow and green. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-have-you-ever-seen-what-happens-to-someone-with-demon-pox-first/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Will!" Charlotte threw up her hands. "Why didn't you say so?" "You know, the books on demon pox are in the library," Will said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-charlotte-threw-up-her-hands-why-didn-t-you-say-so-you-know-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Demon pox, oh demon pox Just how is it acquired? One must go down to the bad part of town Until one is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/demon-pox-oh-demon-pox-just-how-is-it-acquired-one-must-go-down-to-2/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Gabriel’s green eyes sought Will. “It was demon pox, wasn’t it? You know all about it, don’t you? Aren’t you some sort of expert?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/gabriel-s-green-eyes-sought-will-it-was-demon-pox-wasn-t-it-you-know/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Demon Pox, oh, Demon Pox Just how is it acquired? One must first go to the bad part of town Until one is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/demon-pox-oh-demon-pox-just-how-is-it-acquired-one-must-first-go-to/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Oh, leave it,” said Jem, kicking Will, not without affection, lightly on the ankle. “She’s annexed my plan!” “Will,” Tessa said firmly. “Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/oh-leave-it-said-jem-kicking-will-not-without-affection-lightly-on/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Demon pox," said Sophie. "Mr. Lightwood's got it, has had for years, and it'll kill him in a right couple of months if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/demon-pox-said-sophie-mr-lightwood-s-got-it-has-had-for-years-and-it/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [And maybe it would have bitten you in half," said Will. "What you are describing, the transformation into a demon, is the last stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/and-maybe-it-would-have-bitten-you-in-half-said-will-what-you-are/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Demon pox, oh, demon pox, Just how is it acquired? One must go down to the bad part of town Until one is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/demon-pox-oh-demon-pox-just-how-is-it-acquired-one-must-go-down-to/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Astriola. That IS demon pox. You had evidence that demon pox existed and you didnt mention it to me! Et tu, Brute!' He rolled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/astriola-that-is-demon-pox-you-had-evidence-that-demon-pox-existed/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Forsooth, I no longer toil in vain, To prove that demon pox warps the brain. So though 'ti pity, it's not in vain That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/forsooth-i-no-longer-toil-in-vain-to-prove-that-demon-pox-warps-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Have a little faith in my magic fingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/have-a-little-faith-in-my-magic-fingers/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“It felt like being shot with an arrow, and Will jerked back. His wineglass crashed to the floor and shattered. He lurched to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-felt-like-being-shot-with-an-arrow-and-will-jerked-back-his/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## 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 Demon quotes > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [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/) > [I wonder what disgusts you more, the fact that I’m a demon, or the fact that when I touch you, it doesn’t matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larissa-ione/i-wonder-what-disgusts-you-more-the-fact-that-i-m-a-demon-or-the-fact/) [Larissa Ione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larissa-ione/) > [“The demon stopped its frantic attempts to escape. It stared at the glitter and began to pant, fingers twitching in anticipation. More twitching. Faster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/the-demon-stopped-its-frantic-attempts-to-escape-it-stared-at-the/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [“He curled his claw into a fist. "I'd like to shove a stake up that bastard's ass." Adam's lip curled. "Remind me not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaye-wells/he-curled-his-claw-into-a-fist-i-d-like-to-shove-a-stake-up-that/) [Jaye Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaye-wells/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [I’m getting all warm and fuzzy inside at the prospect of these demon things roaming the street, preying on us. (Tate)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-m-getting-all-warm-and-fuzzy-inside-at-the-prospect-of-these-demon/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [In an attempt to hinder, if not altogether halt, the next move of God, Satan has sent forth an army of faultfinding demons against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-frangipane/in-an-attempt-to-hinder-if-not-altogether-halt-the-next-move-of-god/) [Francis Frangipane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-frangipane/) > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it's probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-think-we-should-be-very-careful-about-artificial-intelligence-if-i/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [Evil is the shadow of angel. Just as there are angels of light, support, guidance, healing and defense, so we have experiences of shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/evil-is-the-shadow-of-angel-just-as-there-are-angels-of-light-support/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [“I assure you; while I look like a ghost, I'm no spirit or demon. I'm nothing but a girl struggling to make her way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leanna-renee-hieber/i-assure-you-while-i-look-like-a-ghost-i-m-no-spirit-or-demon-i-m/) [Leanna Renee Hieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leanna-renee-hieber/) > [A rollicking good read-THE HUNTER is steampunk with a Wild West feel. Theresa Meyers is an entertaining and witty writer with a fresh, new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmine-galenorn/a-rollicking-good-read-the-hunter-is-steampunk-with-a-wild-west-feel/) [Yasmine Galenorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmine-galenorn/) [Browse all 1,462 Demon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Jem raised his hand, and his witchlight flared into life, frightening a group of blackbeetles. They scurried across the floor, causing Will to grimace. “Nice place to live, isn’t it? Let’s hope they left something behind other than filth. Forwarding addresses, a few severed limbs, a prostitute or two…” “Indeed. Perhaps, if we’re fortunate, we can still catch syphilis.” “Or demon pox,” Will suggested cheerfully, trying the door under the stairs. 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