--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagine a very long time passing - and I…" description: "\"“Imagine a very long time passing - and I find my way out, following someone who already knows how to leave Hell. And God says to me on Earth for the f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/elizabeth-knox-21566_first-time_imagine-a-very-long-time-passing-and-i-f_2070162.png" --- # Imagine a very long time passing - and I find my way out… ![“Imagine a very long time passing - and I find my way out, following someone who already knows how to leave Hell. And God says to me on Earth for the first time, "Xas!" in a tone of discovery, as if I'm a misplaced pair of spectacles or a stray dog. And he puts it to me that he wants me in Heaven…” quote by Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/elizabeth-knox-21566_first-time_imagine-a-very-long-time-passing-and-i-f_2070162.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/elizabeth-knox-21566_first-time_imagine-a-very-long-time-passing-and-i-f_2070162.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/elizabeth-knox-21566_first-time_imagine-a-very-long-time-passing-and-i-f_2070162.png) > ““Imagine a very long time passing - and I find my way out, following someone who already knows how to leave Hell. And God says to me on Earth for the first time, "Xas!" in a tone of discovery, as if I'm a misplaced pair of spectacles or a stray dog. And he puts it to me that he wants me in Heaven. But Lucifer has doubled back - it was him I followed - to find me, where I am, in a forest, smitten, because the Lord has noticed me, and I'm overcome, as hopeless as your dog Josie whom you got rid of because she loved me.' Xas glared at Sobran. Then he drew a breath - all had been said on only three. He went on: 'Lucifer says to God the He can't have me. And at this I sit up and tell Lucifer that I didn't even think he knew my name, then say to God no thank you - very insolent this - and that Hell is endurable so long as the books keep appearing.”” [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage explores existential struggle, divine interaction, and the paradox of seeking salvation while confronting inner demons. **In simple terms:** A spiritual quest tangled with doubt and rebellion. Key Takeaway Seek truth while questioning authority. Themes faith rebellion existentialism Mood conflicted introspective Type mythic literary When to use this quote - personal crisis - spiritual seeking - moral decision - psychological conflict - literary analysis Key Concepts divine paradox identity crisis redemption Questions to Reflect On - What does “Xas” symbolize? - How do you reconcile divine promises with personal doubt? A Different Perspective The narrative is dense and may obscure clear meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lucifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucifer/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-passing/) ## Related quotes > [Heaven's brightest and best-loved angel, who was cast out for inspiring a rebellion against God. Having lost Heaven, Lucifer and his rebel angels vowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/heaven-s-brightest-and-best-loved-angel-who-was-cast-out-for/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer. Son of the morning!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isiah-14-12/how-art-thou-fallen-from-heaven-o-lucifer-son-of-the-morning/) Isiah 14 12 > [Hell is God's Absence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/hell-is-god-s-absence/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [God doesn't send His children to Hell either. It's just the Devil's children that God sends to Hell. Why should God look after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/god-doesn-t-send-his-children-to-hell-either-it-s-just-the-devil-s/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [Hell is God's great compliment to the reality of human freedom and the dignity of human choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/hell-is-god-s-great-compliment-to-the-reality-of-human-freedom-and/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“even when you go through hell, God is there. Only people who have been to the absolute bottom have the right to report with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-furtick/even-when-you-go-through-hell-god-is-there-only-people-who-have-been/) [Steven Furtick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-furtick/) > [Hell was not part of the original creation. Hell is God's fall-back position. Hell is something God was forced to make because people chose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/hell-was-not-part-of-the-original-creation-hell-is-god-s-fall-back/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [“Hell was never God's intention. It is man's invention. It is a human-manufactured religious icon, no less idolatrous than deifying a statue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-d-pearson/hell-was-never-god-s-intention-it-is-man-s-invention-it-is-a-human/) [Carlton D. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-d-pearson/) > [“I am an Agnostic because I am not afraid to think. I am not afraid of any god in the universe who would send…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/i-am-an-agnostic-because-i-am-not-afraid-to-think-i-am-not-afraid-of/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Bankers - pillars of society who are going to hell if there is a God and He has been accurately quoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/bankers-pillars-of-society-who-are-going-to-hell-if-there-is-a-god/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [How in the hell could God take the black earth and make himself a white man out of it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-meriwether/how-in-the-hell-could-god-take-the-black-earth-and-make-himself-a/) Louise Meriwether > [“If you regard this life as all that there is for a man to live, then the world is a pit of misery worse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-regard-this-life-as-all-that-there-is-for-a-man-to-live-then/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of people say, well how can a loving God send anyone to hell? First of all God doesn't send anyone to hell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/a-lot-of-people-say-well-how-can-a-loving-god-send-anyone-to-hell/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [“I'm going to take this bucket of water and pour it on the flames of hell, and then I am going to use this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-m-going-to-take-this-bucket-of-water-and-pour-it-on-the-flames-of/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [If ever there is a tomorrow when we are not together... then I know I am in hell as god has summoned back his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nghi-lam/if-ever-there-is-a-tomorrow-when-we-are-not-together-then-i-know-i-am/) [Nghi Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nghi-lam/) ## More by Elizabeth Knox > [“The geologist, six years ago now, hadn't defied anything to climb the hill. He'd had his own powerful magic--the ordinary magic that extraordinarily interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/the-geologist-six-years-ago-now-hadn-t-defied-anything-to-climb-the/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) > [“I don't know whether you know this, but there are people in the world with a very odd gift, one that looks like crossed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/i-don-t-know-whether-you-know-this-but-there-are-people-in-the-world/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) > [“I knew I was in danger from the moment I proposed visiting you a second time. I knew because God warned me by sending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/i-knew-i-was-in-danger-from-the-moment-i-proposed-visiting-you-a/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) > [“What no one else sees, no one else cares about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/what-no-one-else-sees-no-one-else-cares-about/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) > [“I have no particular plan in life - and that's something I rather like. Most things that people do seem to me to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/i-have-no-particular-plan-in-life-and-that-s-something-i-rather-like/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) > [“Of course, any map of the Place would be shocking to anyone with any understanding of geography. 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Happiness was happier than it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/happiness-had-never-been-like-this-before-now-it-came-like-sun/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) > [“Don't take this the wrong way, but you seem like the strangest stranger I've ever met.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/don-t-take-this-the-wrong-way-but-you-seem-like-the-strangest/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) > [The thought of flight has melted me, I am less solid than liquid, then I'm going up and going invisible like steam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/the-thought-of-flight-has-melted-me-i-am-less-solid-than-liquid-then/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) > [“Xas put his face close to Sobran's and said, soft and succinct, "Listen, and take this in. The terms of the pact are this:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/xas-put-his-face-close-to-sobran-s-and-said-soft-and-succinct-listen/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) > [“She said to him, ‘You might melt.’ And he said, “If I melt, you can make me again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/she-said-to-him-you-might-melt-and-he-said-if-i-melt-you-can-make-me/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) > [“I guess I should have said that you're a tragic loss because your brains were yours and yours alone. You were the one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/i-guess-i-should-have-said-that-you-re-a-tragic-loss-because-your/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) > [“Xas sighed. "But I don't want to talk about God. Why do I? Sometimes I feel God is all over me like a pollen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-knox/xas-sighed-but-i-don-t-want-to-talk-about-god-why-do-i-sometimes-i/) [Elizabeth Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) [Explore all 29 Elizabeth Knox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-knox/) ## More First time quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“I’m so stressed that a weird Olympic-style commentary starts up in my head. 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And for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/i-m-waiting-for-you-he-murmured-smiling-a-slow-familiar-grin-that/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [“Treat every natural beauty you met as if you see them for the first and last time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/treat-every-natural-beauty-you-met-as-if-you-see-them-for-the-first/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I won’t break your heart. For the first time in my life, I’ve found something worth fighting for, someone more important than me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelle-bliss/i-won-t-break-your-heart-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-ve-found/) [Chelle Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelle-bliss/) > [Life is like a parachute jump: you have to get it right the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-is-like-a-parachute-jump-you-have-to-get-it-right-the-first-time/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [When my kids were in the school play for the first time, I decided I had to make the costumes from scratch and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alexander/when-my-kids-were-in-the-school-play-for-the-first-time-i-decided-i/) [Sarah Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alexander/) > [“I will run every mile, i will save every line, i will say i reached the top and i will fall back down standing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mennah-al-refaey/i-will-run-every-mile-i-will-save-every-line-i-will-say-i-reached-the/) Mennah al refaey > [“Or maybe your magic isn't that destructive after all. 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But Lucifer has doubled back - it was him I followed - to find me, where I am, in a forest, smitten, because the Lord has noticed me, and I'm overcome, as hopeless as your dog Josie whom you got rid of because she loved me.' Xas glared at Sobran. Then he drew a breath - all had been said on only three. He went on: 'Lucifer says to God the He can't have me. 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