--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somewhere out there is a true and living…" description: "\"“Somewhere out there is a true and living prophet of destruction and I dont want to confront him. I know he's real. I have seen his work. I walked in f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/cormac-mccarthy-181_life_somewhere-out-there-is-a-true-and-living_1855993.jpg" --- # Somewhere out there is a true and living prophet of… ![“Somewhere out there is a true and living prophet of destruction and I dont want to confront him. I know he's real. I have seen his work. I walked in front of those eyes once. I wont do it again. I wont push my chips forward and stand up and go out to meet him. It aint just bein older. I wish that…” quote by Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/cormac-mccarthy-181_life_somewhere-out-there-is-a-true-and-living_1855993.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/cormac-mccarthy-181_life_somewhere-out-there-is-a-true-and-living_1855993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/cormac-mccarthy-181_life_somewhere-out-there-is-a-true-and-living_1855993.jpg) > ““Somewhere out there is a true and living prophet of destruction and I dont want to confront him. I know he's real. I have seen his work. I walked in front of those eyes once. I wont do it again. I wont push my chips forward and stand up and go out to meet him. It aint just bein older. I wish that it was. I cant say that it's even what you are willin to do. Because I always knew that you had to be willin to die to even do this job. That was always true. Not to sound glorious about it or nothin but you do. If you aint they'll know it. They'll see it in a heartbeat. I think it is more like what you are willin to become. And I think a man would have to put his soul at hazard. And I wont do that.”” [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator confronts a terrifying, almost mythic adversary, acknowledging the lethal risk of confronting it. **In simple terms:** Facing a deadly force is terrifying and risky. Key Takeaway Recognize fear but act with purpose. Themes existential danger courage Mood somber intense Type philosophical dramatic When to use this quote - combat training - ethical decision making - risk assessment Key Concepts mortality heroic sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - What does confronting evil cost you? - When is it justified to risk yourself? A Different Perspective Confrontation may demand sacrifice beyond personal safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Prophet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophet/) ## Related quotes > [“Somewhere out there is a true and living prophet of destruction and I dont want to confront him. I know he's real. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/somewhere-out-there-is-a-true-and-living-prophet-of-destruction-and-i/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [There is again a living prophet on the earth speaking in the name of the Lord. And how we need such guidance! Our times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/there-is-again-a-living-prophet-on-the-earth-speaking-in-the-name-of/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [The living prophet and the apostles today are as lighthouses in the storm. Steer towards the light of the restored gospel and the inspired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/the-living-prophet-and-the-apostles-today-are-as-lighthouses-in-the/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Look not to have your sepulchre built in after ages hy the same foolish hands which still ever destroy the living prophet. Small honour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/look-not-to-have-your-sepulchre-built-in-after-ages-hy-the-same/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [“We don’t have the luxury of having the Urim and the Thummim,” Wilson said, in a nod to the stones that the Israelite high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-don-t-have-the-luxury-of-having-the-urim-and-the-thummim-wilson/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You will live in the midst of economic, political, and spiritual instability. 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Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) ## More by Cormac McCarthy > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“The events of the world can have no separate life from the world. And yet the world itself can have no temporal view of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-events-of-the-world-can-have-no-separate-life-from-the-world-and/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“I had two dreams about him after he died. 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Where'd he go?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/ultimo-hombre-last-man-standing-must-ve-been-one-where-d-he-go/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“To seek out the upright. No fall but preceded by a declination. He took great marching steps into the nothingness, counting them against his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/to-seek-out-the-upright-no-fall-but-preceded-by-a-declination-he-took/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“They went through the last of the cars and then walked up the track to the locomotive and climbed up to the catwalk. Rust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/they-went-through-the-last-of-the-cars-and-then-walked-up-the-track/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“Night fell upon them dark and starblown and the wagon grew swollen near mute with dew. 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I know he's real. I have seen his work. I walked in front of those eyes once. I wont do it again. I wont push my chips forward and stand up and go out to meet him. It aint just bein older. I wish that it was. I cant say that it's even what you are willin to do. Because I always knew that you had to be willin to die to even do this job. That was always true. Not to sound glorious about it or nothin but you do. If you aint they'll know it. They'll see it in a heartbeat. I think it is more like what you are willin to become. And I think a man would have to put his soul at hazard. 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