Devil Quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
““Yes, the laws of self-preservation and of self-destruction are equally powerful in this world. The devil will hold his empire over humanity until a limit of time which is still unknown. You laugh? You do not believe in the devil? Scepticism as to the devil is a French idea, and it is also a frivolous idea. Do you know who the devil is? Do you know his name? Although you don't know his name you make a mockery of his form, following the example of Voltaire. You sneer at his hoofs, at his tail, at his horns—all of them the produce of your imagination! In reality the devil is a great and terrible spirit, with neither hoofs, nor tail, nor horns; it is you who have endowed him with these attributes! But… he is not the question just now!””
About This Quote
The passage argues that humanity projects evil onto a mythic devil, attributing monstrous traits to an imagined being, while the true source of destruction lies within human nature itself.
In simple terms: Human evil is self‑created, not external.
Key Takeaway
We externalize our own darkness.
Themes
human nature
mythology
self‑deception
evil
philosophy
psychology
Mood
reflective
critical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
literary
cautionary
When to use this quote
- theological debate
- literary analysis
- psychological counseling
- cultural critique
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
projection
self‑preservation
self‑destruction
anthropomorphism
Practical Applications
- examining personal responsibility
- challenging supernatural explanations
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to attribute evil to an external force?
- How might recognizing internal darkness change our actions?
![“if [God] doesn't exist, man is the chief of the earth, of the universe. Magnificent! Only how is he going to be good without God?” quote by Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/09b/fyodor-dostoyevsky-94_ethics_if-god-doesn-t-exist-man-is-the-chief-of_16023.jpg)
