--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Progress in evil was quick and easy…" description: "\"“Progress in evil was quick and easy; Apollyon was not a chap who hid himself and he gave every assistance in his power. The growth in goodness was so ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/elizabeth-goudge-2888_alice-in-wonderland_progress-in-evil-was-quick-and-easy-apol_1325279.jpg" --- # Progress in evil was quick and easy; Apollyon was not a… ![“Progress in evil was quick and easy; Apollyon was not a chap who hid himself and he gave every assistance in his power. The growth in goodness was so slow, at times so flat, so dull, and like the White Queen one had to run so fast to stay where one was, let alone progress; and there were few men…” quote by Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/elizabeth-goudge-2888_alice-in-wonderland_progress-in-evil-was-quick-and-easy-apol_1325279.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/elizabeth-goudge-2888_alice-in-wonderland_progress-in-evil-was-quick-and-easy-apol_1325279.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/elizabeth-goudge-2888_alice-in-wonderland_progress-in-evil-was-quick-and-easy-apol_1325279.jpg) > ““Progress in evil was quick and easy; Apollyon was not a chap who hid himself and he gave every assistance in his power. The growth in goodness was so slow, at times so flat, so dull, and like the White Queen one had to run so fast to stay where one was, let alone progress; and there were few men who dared to say they had found God. It was easy to be a clever sinner, for the race to an earthly visible goal was short to run, so impossibly hard to be a wise saint, with the goal set at so vast a distance from this world and clouded with such uncertainty.”” [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Goodness grows slowly and laboriously, while evil advances quickly; achieving saintliness feels distant and uncertain compared to the ease of sin. **In simple terms:** Being good is hard and slow; being bad is easy and fast. Key Takeaway Embrace patience on the moral path. Themes morality spirituality effort temptation Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - ethical decisions - spiritual practice Key Concepts virtue sin spiritual journey Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to pursue virtue despite difficulty? - How can societies support slow, steady moral progress? A Different Perspective The slow pace may discourage perseverance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Sanctification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [In that wide struggle which we call Progress, evil is always the aggressor and the vanquished, and it is right that this should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stephens/in-that-wide-struggle-which-we-call-progress-evil-is-always-the/) [James Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stephens/) > [“Are you not going to talk? Just sit there and stare at me like a creeper?" Aiden cracked a half smile. "You called me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/are-you-not-going-to-talk-just-sit-there-and-stare-at-me-like-a/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way, and said "I am void of fear in this matter. Prepare thyself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/then-apollyon-straddled-quite-over-the-whole-breadth-of-the-way-and/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [“...Is Wonderland really a wonder...when you have nowhere to land?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raven-gregory/is-wonderland-really-a-wonder-when-you-have-nowhere-to-land/) Raven Gregory > [“Alice: I didn't know that cheshire cats grinned. In fact, I didn't know that cats could grin. Duchess: They can, and most of 'em…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-espinosa/alice-i-didn-t-know-that-cheshire-cats-grinned-in-fact-i-didn-t-know/) Rod Espinosa > [Only the insane equate pain with success." "The uninformed must improve their deficit, or die." \_Cheshire Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/only-the-insane-equate-pain-with-success-the-uninformed-must-improve/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“A likely story indeed!" said the Pigeon, in a tone of the deepest contempt. "I've seen a good many little girls in my time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/a-likely-story-indeed-said-the-pigeon-in-a-tone-of-the-deepest/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“You have a friend named Bug?” “Sure. Why wouldn’t I?” Chess asked. “I have another friend who keeps telling me to call her Alice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-sullivan/you-have-a-friend-named-bug-sure-why-wouldn-t-i-chess-asked-i-have/) [J.M. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-sullivan/) > [“On closer notice of her apron, he said, "Is that-?" "The Mad Hatter," she said. "I told you, I have a collection." "You collect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/on-closer-notice-of-her-apron-he-said-is-that-the-mad-hatter-she-said/) [Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/) > [“How long is forever? 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"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/) > [“It's the stupidest tea party I ever was at in all my life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/it-s-the-stupidest-tea-party-i-ever-was-at-in-all-my-life/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) ## More by Elizabeth Goudge > [“He strolled to the front door and stood watching, letting the picture of Felicity grave itself so deeply on his mind that when with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/he-strolled-to-the-front-door-and-stood-watching-letting-the-picture/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [I have known him nearly all my life, and I am going to marry him, so that there won't ever be a time when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/i-have-known-him-nearly-all-my-life-and-i-am-going-to-marry-him-so/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Because of course she had known she must go. 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Day and night, life and death, love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/could-you-understand-the-meaning-of-light-if-there-were-no-darkness/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [A well-trained dog is like religion, it sets the deserving at their ease and is a terror to evildoers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/a-well-trained-dog-is-like-religion-it-sets-the-deserving-at-their/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [The sun is still there... even if clouds drift over it. Once you have experienced the reality of sunshine you may weep, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-sun-is-still-there-even-if-clouds-drift-over-it-once-you-have/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [ \[Salvation\] is a curious process of divine burglary. The first thing to be wrested from one by a God who said 'Thou shalt not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/salvation-is-a-curious-process-of-divine-burglary-the-first-thing-to/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [The lovers of life, they are children at heart always in their wonder and delight, but they do not grab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-lovers-of-life-they-are-children-at-heart-always-in-their-wonder/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Our home, our special country, is for all of us the place where we find liberation; a very difficult word ... that tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/our-home-our-special-country-is-for-all-of-us-the-place-where-we-find/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [“Nothing whatsoever, not even the existence of God to His lovers, can be proved, but that every man, if he is to live at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/nothing-whatsoever-not-even-the-existence-of-god-to-his-lovers-can-be/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) [Explore all 144 Elizabeth Goudge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) ## More Alice in wonderland quotes > [“It's the stupidest tea party I ever was at in all my life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/it-s-the-stupidest-tea-party-i-ever-was-at-in-all-my-life/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“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/) > [“Who wouldn’t choose to be the best version of themselves possible? People, by nature, are narcissistic.” He straightened his tie and jacket as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-sullivan/who-wouldn-t-choose-to-be-the-best-version-of-themselves-possible/) [J.M. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-sullivan/) > [“She knew what he offered. He would kill her first, with the gun or the knife or his fists if he had to, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-henry/she-knew-what-he-offered-he-would-kill-her-first-with-the-gun-or-the/) [Christina Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-henry/) > [Speak in French when you can’t think of the English for a thing-- turn your toes out when you walk--- And remember who you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/speak-in-french-when-you-can-t-think-of-the-english-for-a-thing-turn/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“How long is forever? Sometimes just one second”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/how-long-is-forever-sometimes-just-one-second/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“On closer notice of her apron, he said, "Is that-?" "The Mad Hatter," she said. "I told you, I have a collection." "You collect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/on-closer-notice-of-her-apron-he-said-is-that-the-mad-hatter-she-said/) [Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/) > [“You have a friend named Bug?” “Sure. Why wouldn’t I?” Chess asked. “I have another friend who keeps telling me to call her Alice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-sullivan/you-have-a-friend-named-bug-sure-why-wouldn-t-i-chess-asked-i-have/) [J.M. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-sullivan/) > [“A likely story indeed!" said the Pigeon, in a tone of the deepest contempt. "I've seen a good many little girls in my time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/a-likely-story-indeed-said-the-pigeon-in-a-tone-of-the-deepest/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Only the insane equate pain with success." "The uninformed must improve their deficit, or die." \_Cheshire Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/only-the-insane-equate-pain-with-success-the-uninformed-must-improve/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“Alice: I didn't know that cheshire cats grinned. In fact, I didn't know that cats could grin. 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Her boys weren't dangerous-just naughty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-hall/bad-boys-needed-love-too-her-boys-weren-t-dangerous-just-naughty/) [Marie Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-hall/) Browse all 57 Alice in wonderland quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Progress in evil was quick and easy; Apollyon was not a chap who hid himself and he gave every assistance in his power. The growth in goodness was so slow, at times so flat, so dull, and like the White Queen one had to run so fast to stay where one was, let alone progress; and there were few men who dared to say they had found God. 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