Fanaticism Quote by Graham Greene
““I can imagine that if there existed a God who loved, the devil would be driven to destroy even the weakest, the most faulty imitation of love. Wouldn't he be afraid that the habit of love might grow, and wouldn't he try to trap us all into being traitors, into helping him extinguish love? If there is a God who uses us and makes his saints out of such material as we are, the devil too may have his ambitions; he may dream of training even such a person as myself... into being his saints, ready with borrowed fanaticism to destroy love wherever we find it.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The End of the Affair by Graham Greene, 1951
Even a divine love can provoke fear and manipulation, as evil may seek to corrupt or destroy it, turning devotion into a battleground.
In simple terms: Love can be contested by darkness.
Key Takeaway
Guard love against manipulation.
Themes
faith
evil
love versus darkness
Mood
cautious
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- spiritual crisis
- ethical dilemmas
- personal temptation
Key Concepts
theology
moral conflict
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Can love truly be weaponized?
- What protects love from corruption?
A Different Perspective
Assumes a singular view of God and devil; cultural context varies.
![“[Friedrich] Nietzsche said something marvellous, he said "Madness is not a consequence of uncertainty but of certainty", and this is fanaticism.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c8e/elie-wiesel-341_certainty_friedrich-nietzsche-said-something-marve_89498.jpg)
