Divine justice Quote by Hector Berlioz
““One evening we were exploring the Baths of Caracalla together, while debating the question of merit or demerit in human behaviour and its rewards in life. As I was propounding some outrageous thesis or another in answer to the strictly orthodox and pious views put forward by him, his foot slipped and the next moment he was lying in a bruised condition at the bottom of a steep ruined staircase. 'Look at that for divine justice,' I said, helping him onto his feet. 'I blaspheme, you fall.' This irreverence, accompanied by roars of laughter, apparently went to far, and thenceforth all religious arguments were banned.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Devil's Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce, 1906
A humorous anecdote shows how a sudden accident is interpreted as divine retribution, leading to the suppression of religious debate.
In simple terms: An accident is blamed on divine justice, ending religious arguments.
Key Takeaway
Beware of attributing misfortune to higher powers.
Themes
humor
religion
justice
social control
Mood
irry
critical
reflective
Type
anecdotal
satirical
historical
When to use this quote
- academic lectures
- public debates
- religious gatherings
- social media discussions
Key Concepts
Divine justice
satire
censorship
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we differentiate coincidence from moral causation?
- What are the risks of silencing dissenting views?
A Different Perspective
Oversimplifies complex causes of events to a single moral lesson.
![“Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its students." [ Letter, November 1856 ]” quote by Hector Berlioz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/15b/hector-berlioz-19504_death_time-is-a-great-teacher-but-unfortunatel_690668.jpg)
