---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bhuta ia, dewa ia. (Bali expression…"
description: "\"Bhuta ia, dewa ia. (Bali expression meaning Man is a demon, man is a god.)\" — Elizabeth Gilbert"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/elizabeth-gilbert-131_bali_bhuta-ia-dewa-ia-bali-expression-meaning_3202387.jpg"
---

#  Bhuta ia, dewa ia. (Bali expression meaning Man is a…

![“Bhuta ia, dewa ia. (Bali expression meaning Man is a demon, man is a god.)” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/elizabeth-gilbert-131_bali_bhuta-ia-dewa-ia-bali-expression-meaning_3202387.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/elizabeth-gilbert-131_bali_bhuta-ia-dewa-ia-bali-expression-meaning_3202387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/elizabeth-gilbert-131_bali_bhuta-ia-dewa-ia-bali-expression-meaning_3202387.jpg)

> “Bhuta ia, dewa ia. (Bali expression meaning Man is a demon, man is a god.)”

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The proverb reflects the dual nature of humanity, capable of both destructive and divine actions, urging self‑reflection on moral choices.

**In simple terms:** Humans can be both demon and god.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate awareness of our capacity for good and harm.

Themes

human nature morality dualism self‑reflection

Mood

inspirational thoughtful reflective

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- daily decision making
- leadership
- conflict resolution
- creative work

Key Concepts

ethical responsibility spiritual growth personal agency

Questions to Reflect On

- In what ways do we act as creators or destroyers?
- How can we nurture our higher potential?

A Different Perspective

It may be overly binary, ignoring nuance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bali/) [Bali Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bali-expression-5949745/) [Demon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Ia Bali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ia-bali-5949746/) [Man Demon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-demon-797518/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Meaning Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-man-736237/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/)

## Related quotes

> [Man is a demon, man is a god. Both true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/man-is-a-demon-man-is-a-god-both-true/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“I ground my teeth. "Just when I thought I was getting a handle on this whole Dark One/demon lord/imp thing, you go and throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/i-ground-my-teeth-just-when-i-thought-i-was-getting-a-handle-on-this/)

[Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/)

> [You ask 'Are you a man or a demon?' Neither, I say. I have woken up, and the rest of you are sleeping, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aravind-adiga/you-ask-are-you-a-man-or-a-demon-neither-i-say-i-have-woken-up-and/)

[Aravind Adiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aravind-adiga/)

> [“sin is an effort to gain the ecstasy and the knowledge that pertain alone to angels, and in making this effort man becomes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/sin-is-an-effort-to-gain-the-ecstasy-and-the-knowledge-that-pertain/)

[Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/)

> [“I should have resisted somehow. I should’ve done something, anything. Instead, I just stood there and let them ... touch me.” Sam’s face crumpled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-w-simpson/i-should-have-resisted-somehow-i-should-ve-done-something-anything/)

[Phillip W. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-w-simpson/)

> [“Religious ceremonies are of paramount importance in Bali ( an island, don't forget, with seven unpredictable volcanoes on it-you would pray, too).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/religious-ceremonies-are-of-paramount-importance-in-bali-an-island/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Caesar was a man of great common sense and good taste, meaning thereby a man without originality or moral courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/caesar-was-a-man-of-great-common-sense-and-good-taste-meaning-thereby/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [“Well, in that case, no. I’m not your father. But if you go with another definition, meaning ‘a man who wants to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-evans-welch/well-in-that-case-no-i-m-not-your-father-but-if-you-go-with-another/)

[Jenna Evans Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-evans-welch/)

> [And the meaning of man in this dream of his Illusion of Life is to fulfil the man, to know that he is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/and-the-meaning-of-man-in-this-dream-of-his-illusion-of-life-is-to/)

[Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/)

> [To study the meaning of man and of life — I am making significant progress here. I have faith in myself. Man is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/to-study-the-meaning-of-man-and-of-life-i-am-making-significant/)

[Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/)

> [I continue to believe that this world has no ultimate meaning. But I know that something in it has a meaning and that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-continue-to-believe-that-this-world-has-no-ultimate-meaning-but-i/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [“Meaning is as man made as concrete it will last but for only so long.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avery-camden/meaning-is-as-man-made-as-concrete-it-will-last-but-for-only-so-long/)

[Avery Camden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avery-camden/)

> [Meaning is man-created. And because you constantly look for meaning, you start to feel meaninglessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/meaning-is-man-created-and-because-you-constantly-look-for-meaning/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [He's a man of great common sense and good taste - meaning thereby a man without originality or moral courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/he-s-a-man-of-great-common-sense-and-good-taste-meaning-thereby-a-man/)

[George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/)

> [“I believe this is so and I'm prepared to vouch for it, because it seems to me that the meaning of man's life consists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/i-believe-this-is-so-and-i-m-prepared-to-vouch-for-it-because-it/)

[Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/)

## More by Elizabeth Gilbert

> [That's your friend. My husband is my best friend. He's not the mirror that holds up my flaws. He's just the guy who's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/that-s-your-friend-my-husband-is-my-best-friend-he-s-not-the-mirror/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“Not to mention that I have finally arrived at that age where a woman starts to question whether the wisest way to get over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/not-to-mention-that-i-have-finally-arrived-at-that-age-where-a-woman/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“The Buddha taught that all human suffering is rooted in desire. Don't we all know this to be true? Any of us who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-buddha-taught-that-all-human-suffering-is-rooted-in-desire-don-t/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [ “And while \[we\] do have possibilities that are vast and magnificent and almost infinite in scope, it's important to remember that our choice-rich lives… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/and-while-we-do-have-possibilities-that-are-vast-and-magnificent-and/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Learn your way around loneliness. Make a map of it. Sit with it, for once in your life. Welcome to the human experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/learn-your-way-around-loneliness-make-a-map-of-it-sit-with-it-for/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [If we never leave our house except to drive to work, do we need to be even remotely aware of this powerful, humbling, extraordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/if-we-never-leave-our-house-except-to-drive-to-work-do-we-need-to-be/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [I will tell you why we have these extraordinary minds and souls, Miss Whittaker," he continued, as though he had not heard her. "We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-will-tell-you-why-we-have-these-extraordinary-minds-and-souls-miss/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/clearing-out-all-your-misery-gets-you-out-of-the-way-you-cease-being/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present in all of us,...The madness of this planet is largely a result of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-ingredients-of-both-darkness-and-light-are-equally-present-in-all/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [I was full of a hot, powerful sadness and would have loved to burst into the comfort of tears, but tried hard not to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-was-full-of-a-hot-powerful-sadness-and-would-have-loved-to-burst/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“I live in nature where everything is connected, circular. The seasons are circular. The planet is circular, and so is the planet around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-live-in-nature-where-everything-is-connected-circular-the-seasons/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [“His spelling was several degrees beyond arbitrary, and his punctuation brought reason to sigh with unhappiness. But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/his-spelling-was-several-degrees-beyond-arbitrary-and-his-punctuation/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [Before you realize this truth, say the Yogis, you will always be in despair, a notion nicely expressed in this exasperated line from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/before-you-realize-this-truth-say-the-yogis-you-will-always-be-in/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

> [I actually have a great deal of respect for antidepressants; I think they can be enormously mighty tools toward recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-actually-have-a-great-deal-of-respect-for-antidepressants-i-think/)

[Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

[Explore all 1,156 Elizabeth Gilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/)

## More Bali quotes

> [Uzuri wa mtu sio sura bali ni moyo wake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-riza/uzuri-wa-mtu-sio-sura-bali-ni-moyo-wake/)

[Bob Riza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-riza/)

> [JAI BAJRANG BALI…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhatsprincess/jai-bajrang-bali/)

[ZhatsPrincess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhatsprincess/)

> [You look at the world situation, look at London, Paris, Italy, it is all basically the same as the U.S. Then you look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/you-look-at-the-world-situation-look-at-london-paris-italy-it-is-all/)

[Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/)

> [“...orang Bali mempunjai kepertjajaan... kalau gunung Agung meletus ini berarti bahwa rakjat telah melakukan maksiat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukarno/orang-bali-mempunjai-kepertjajaan-kalau-gunung-agung-meletus-ini/)

[Sukarno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukarno/)

> [I had dreamed of visiting Bali for many years and because I had an extended family of Balinese friends in Los Angeles, I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-murphy/i-had-dreamed-of-visiting-bali-for-many-years-and-because-i-had-an/)

[Carolyn Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-murphy/)

> [Tahiti has been spoiled for many years, but Bali is one of the few cultures with origins in one of the great ancient cultures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-erickson/tahiti-has-been-spoiled-for-many-years-but-bali-is-one-of-the-few/)

[Arthur Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-erickson/)

> [“Love Hurts. I daresay there’s two or three poems, six novels and at least twelve songs on the subject. That’s how the Janus-faced beast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-s-fletcher/love-hurts-i-daresay-there-s-two-or-three-poems-six-novels-and-at/)

[Daniel S. Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-s-fletcher/)

> [There is a saying in Bali: "We have no art. We do everything as beautifully as possible." This reflects my philosophy of practice. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/there-is-a-saying-in-bali-we-have-no-art-we-do-everything-as/)

[Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/)

> [After Cannes every year, I end up going to some foreign country I've never been to before and introducing myself to a new religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rodriguez/after-cannes-every-year-i-end-up-going-to-some-foreign-country-i-ve/)

[Michelle Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rodriguez/)

> [You don't just have to be influenced by rock, or goth, anymore. It's okay to say, 'My influences are Tin Pan music from Bali…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grimes/you-don-t-just-have-to-be-influenced-by-rock-or-goth-anymore-it-s/)

[Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grimes/)

> [My home has a split personality. Some of the rooms are very French antique. Think Aubusson rugs, turquoise ceramic jugs, sandbag pillows, and broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-delevingne/my-home-has-a-split-personality-some-of-the-rooms-are-very-french/)

[Poppy Delevingne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-delevingne/)

> [ \[In Bali\] life is a rhythmic, patterned unreality of pleasant, significant movement, centered in one's own body to which all emotions long ago withdrew. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/in-bali-life-is-a-rhythmic-patterned-unreality-of-pleasant/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [My favorite hotel is the Villa Alilla in Bali. The setting is pure bliss, overlooking the ocean of Uluwatu; the eye line makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-murphy/my-favorite-hotel-is-the-villa-alilla-in-bali-the-setting-is-pure/)

[Carolyn Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-murphy/)

> [Bajrang Bali worked to connect all Indian communities together, from north to south and east to west.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-adityanath/bajrang-bali-worked-to-connect-all-indian-communities-together-from/)

[Yogi Adityanath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-adityanath/)

> [Just as there are many more Californians now to be found in the temples of Kyoto or the villages of Bali or the mountains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/just-as-there-are-many-more-californians-now-to-be-found-in-the/)

[Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/)

[Browse all 62 Bali quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bali/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Bhuta ia, dewa ia. (Bali expression meaning Man is a demon, man is a god.)",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Elizabeth Gilbert"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/bhuta-ia-dewa-ia-bali-expression-meaning-man-is-a-demon-man-is-a-god/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bali"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/bhuta-ia-dewa-ia-bali-expression-meaning-man-is-a-demon-man-is-a-god/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/elizabeth-gilbert-131_bali_bhuta-ia-dewa-ia-bali-expression-meaning_3202387.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/elizabeth-gilbert-131_bali_bhuta-ia-dewa-ia-bali-expression-meaning_3202387.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee9/elizabeth-gilbert-131_bali_bhuta-ia-dewa-ia-bali-expression-meaning_3202387.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Bhuta ia, dewa ia. (Bali expression meaning Man is a demon, man is a god.)” — Elizabeth Gilbert",
                "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": "Elizabeth Gilbert",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Bhuta ia, dewa ia. (Bali expression...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/bhuta-ia-dewa-ia-bali-expression-meaning-man-is-a-demon-man-is-a-god/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/bhuta-ia-dewa-ia-bali-expression-meaning-man-is-a-demon-man-is-a-god/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
