--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: THE THING WAS AN EXPERT IN HORROR, BUT…" description: "\"“THE THING WAS AN EXPERT IN HORROR, BUT THIS HUMAN HORROR INDEED EXCEEDED ANY OTHER POSSIBLE FATE. NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS WITHOUT MERCY, BUT BECAUSE I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4c/guillermo-del-toro-986_death-camps_the-thing-was-an-expert-in-horror-but-th_1195929.png" --- # THE THING WAS AN EXPERT IN HORROR, BUT THIS HUMAN HORROR… ![“THE THING WAS AN EXPERT IN HORROR, BUT THIS HUMAN HORROR INDEED EXCEEDED ANY OTHER POSSIBLE FATE. NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS WITHOUT MERCY, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS ACTED UPON RATIONALLY AND WITHOUT COMPULSION. IT WAS A CHOICE. THE KILLING WAS UNRELATED TO THE LARGE WAR, AND IT SERVED NO OTHER PURPOSE THEN…” quote by guillermo del toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4c/guillermo-del-toro-986_death-camps_the-thing-was-an-expert-in-horror-but-th_1195929.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4c/guillermo-del-toro-986_death-camps_the-thing-was-an-expert-in-horror-but-th_1195929.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4c/guillermo-del-toro-986_death-camps_the-thing-was-an-expert-in-horror-but-th_1195929.png) > ““THE THING WAS AN EXPERT IN HORROR, BUT THIS HUMAN HORROR INDEED EXCEEDED ANY OTHER POSSIBLE FATE. NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS WITHOUT MERCY, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS ACTED UPON RATIONALLY AND WITHOUT COMPULSION. IT WAS A CHOICE. THE KILLING WAS UNRELATED TO THE LARGE WAR, AND IT SERVED NO OTHER PURPOSE THEN EVIL. MEN CHOSE TO DO THIS TO OTHER MEN AND INVENTED REASONS AND PLACES AND MYTHS IN ORDER TO SATISFY THEIR DESIRE IN A LOGICAL AND METHODICAL WAY.”” [guillermo del toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A rational, methodical choice to commit evil shows that horror can be a calculated, not just emotional, act. **In simple terms:** Evil can be planned logically. Key Takeaway Recognize when rationality is used to justify cruelty. Themes morality human nature evil choice rationality Mood disturbing thought‑provoking serious Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - war crimes - political oppression - corporate misconduct - personal relationships Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What rational arguments do we accept that enable harm? - How can societies guard against methodical evil? A Different Perspective Rationality can be misused to mask cruelty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death camps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-camps/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World war 2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-2/) ## Related quotes > [“When men chose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing. They then become capable of believing in anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-cammaerts/when-men-chose-not-to-believe-in-god-they-do-not-thereafter-believe/) Emile Cammaerts > [Le Chiffre was serving a wonderful purpose, a really vital purpose, perhaps the best and highest purpose of all. By his evil existence, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/le-chiffre-was-serving-a-wonderful-purpose-a-really-vital-purpose/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Humans have always wondered about the meaning of life... life has no higher purpose than to perpetuate the survival of DNA... life has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/humans-have-always-wondered-about-the-meaning-of-life-life-has-no/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“If the universe is trying to maintain balance, we must aid this by ensuring that Good is not enjoyed excessively. Or else the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/if-the-universe-is-trying-to-maintain-balance-we-must-aid-this-by/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [At a simple level, good is that which helps people-evil is that which hurts people. At a higher level, good is that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/at-a-simple-level-good-is-that-which-helps-people-evil-is-that-which/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [“They did not believe death was accidental-life might be, but death was deliberate. They did not believe Nature was ever askew-only inconvenient...The purpose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/they-did-not-believe-death-was-accidental-life-might-be-but-death-was/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“In the argument, y’know, between hate and love, it’s really up to each one of us. In our hearts or wherever. Each of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lecesne/in-the-argument-y-know-between-hate-and-love-it-s-really-up-to-each/) [James Lecesne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lecesne/) > [“The purpose of evil is to complement the good. If there is no hatred in this world, there can’t be any love too. While…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/awdhesh-singh/the-purpose-of-evil-is-to-complement-the-good-if-there-is-no-hatred/) [Awdhesh Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/awdhesh-singh/) > [The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-an-evil-soul-producing/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A laborer might last ten years or so before expiring. But individual workers in the death camp of sugar were survived by their culture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-sublette/a-laborer-might-last-ten-years-or-so-before-expiring-but-individual/) [Ned Sublette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-sublette/) > [“Vichy officials and collaborationists imprisoned 135,000 people (many for little more than their political beliefs), sent 650,000 more to Germany as “guest workers” under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-neiberg/vichy-officials-and-collaborationists-imprisoned-135-000-people-many/) Michael Neiberg > [“It has been reliably established that from 1933 to 1945 millions of innocent people were systematically slaughtered on command. Gas chambers were built, death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/it-has-been-reliably-established-that-from-1933-to-1945-millions-of/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [As Polish society we cannot live with the term 'Polish death camps' or 'Polish concentration camps.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-duda/as-polish-society-we-cannot-live-with-the-term-polish-death-camps-or/) [Andrzej Duda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-duda/) > [“I look up some old friends, journalists. One is a senior editor at L’Express, and he complains to me that he has in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-ivan-evi/i-look-up-some-old-friends-journalists-one-is-a-senior-editor-at-l/) Nina Živančević > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More by guillermo del toro > [“Tom Hiddleston is so fucking nice. It used to be in the past you were either nice, or you were good-looking and an asshole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/tom-hiddleston-is-so-fucking-nice-it-used-to-be-in-the-past-you-were/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [When you work with a great director, you can have a great partnership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/when-you-work-with-a-great-director-you-can-have-a-great-partnership/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [You think if you work hard enough, you can fix the precious things you've broken - rather than being careful with them in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/you-think-if-you-work-hard-enough-you-can-fix-the-precious-things-you/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [“What is a ghost? A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and again? A moment of pain, perhaps. Something dead which still seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/what-is-a-ghost-a-tragedy-condemned-to-repeat-itself-time-and-again-a/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [If you want to know how to handle a crew, it's great to be part of a crew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/if-you-want-to-know-how-to-handle-a-crew-it-s-great-to-be-part-of-a/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [For any actor to have Oliver Stone call him or her up It’s a compliment. He expects you to be on your toes. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/for-any-actor-to-have-oliver-stone-call-him-or-her-up-it-s-a/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [The problem with 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' was that it was designed to be a PG-13 movie. It was literally a horror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/the-problem-with-don-t-be-afraid-of-the-dark-was-that-it-was-designed/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [My favorite novel in the world is Frankenstein. I'm going to misquote it horribly, but the monster says, "I have such love in me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/my-favorite-novel-in-the-world-is-frankenstein-i-m-going-to-misquote/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [I'm a lapsed altar boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/i-m-a-lapsed-altar-boy/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [“I say making movies is like eating a sandwich of shit. Sometimes you get more bread, sometimes less bread, but you always get shit."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/i-say-making-movies-is-like-eating-a-sandwich-of-shit-sometimes-you/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > ['Crimson' is written in a very particular style, and it's very precise in the way it graduates into a gothic romance. The souls that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/crimson-is-written-in-a-very-particular-style-and-it-s-very-precise/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [Any actor I admire and enjoy working with - Sergi Lopez as the bad guy in 'Pan's Labyrinth,' or the little girl who played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/any-actor-i-admire-and-enjoy-working-with-sergi-lopez-as-the-bad-guy/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [“All belief systems are elaborate fabrications, if logic is followed out to the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/all-belief-systems-are-elaborate-fabrications-if-logic-is-followed/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [Studios look backward. Filmmakers look forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/studios-look-backward-filmmakers-look-forward/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [Normally a period movie has a lot of problems with the graphics. They look modern made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/normally-a-period-movie-has-a-lot-of-problems-with-the-graphics-they/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) [Explore all 310 guillermo del toro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) ## More Death camps quotes > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I look up some old friends, journalists. One is a senior editor at L’Express, and he complains to me that he has in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-ivan-evi/i-look-up-some-old-friends-journalists-one-is-a-senior-editor-at-l/) Nina Živančević > [As Polish society we cannot live with the term 'Polish death camps' or 'Polish concentration camps.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-duda/as-polish-society-we-cannot-live-with-the-term-polish-death-camps-or/) [Andrzej Duda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-duda/) > [“It has been reliably established that from 1933 to 1945 millions of innocent people were systematically slaughtered on command. Gas chambers were built, death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/it-has-been-reliably-established-that-from-1933-to-1945-millions-of/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [“Vichy officials and collaborationists imprisoned 135,000 people (many for little more than their political beliefs), sent 650,000 more to Germany as “guest workers” under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-neiberg/vichy-officials-and-collaborationists-imprisoned-135-000-people-many/) Michael Neiberg > [A laborer might last ten years or so before expiring. But individual workers in the death camp of sugar were survived by their culture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-sublette/a-laborer-might-last-ten-years-or-so-before-expiring-but-individual/) [Ned Sublette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-sublette/) > [I would say, on the basis of having observe a thousand people in the experiment and having my own intuition shaped and informed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-would-say-on-the-basis-of-having-observe-a-thousand-people-in-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [Let's put it this way. I question whether 6 million Jews actually died in Nazi death camps. There are two major sources for Holocaust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/let-s-put-it-this-way-i-question-whether-6-million-jews-actually-died/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [Now documentary evidence is acceptable. What does that mean? If you have documentary evidence that a person served as a guard in one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hier/now-documentary-evidence-is-acceptable-what-does-that-mean-if-you/) [Marvin Hier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hier/) > [The genocide will not necessarily take the form of war, or death camps. Most likely it will take the form of ecocide, in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-genocide-will-not-necessarily-take-the-form-of-war-or-death-camps/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [How incredibly avaricious the whole operation was, the way they made the Jews pay for their tickets in the railway cars to the death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/how-incredibly-avaricious-the-whole-operation-was-the-way-they-made/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“Heroes deal out vengeance, wiping out insults, and in an existential sense denying their own death. In twentieth-century camps, however, Todorov found, some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-e-baptist/heroes-deal-out-vengeance-wiping-out-insults-and-in-an-existential/) [Edward E. Baptist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-e-baptist/) > [Those who say they dislike dogma, or 'certainty', tend to be liars, hypocrites, or simply wrong. What they really dislike is the dogma of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/those-who-say-they-dislike-dogma-or-certainty-tend-to-be-liars/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [It's a weird thing. Reservations were meant to be prisons, you know? Indians were supposed to move onto reservations and die. We were supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/it-s-a-weird-thing-reservations-were-meant-to-be-prisons-you-know/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [I became a degenerate artist. My parents were shaped by their own experiences, and artists weren't so useful in the death camps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-spiegelman/i-became-a-degenerate-artist-my-parents-were-shaped-by-their-own/) [Art Spiegelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-spiegelman/) [Browse all 16 Death camps quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-camps/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“THE THING WAS AN EXPERT IN HORROR, BUT THIS HUMAN HORROR INDEED EXCEEDED ANY OTHER POSSIBLE FATE. NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS WITHOUT MERCY, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS ACTED UPON RATIONALLY AND WITHOUT COMPULSION. IT WAS A CHOICE. THE KILLING WAS UNRELATED TO THE LARGE WAR, AND IT SERVED NO OTHER PURPOSE THEN EVIL. 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