--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The belief that man is an irresolute…" description: "\"The belief that man is an irresolute creature pulled this way and that by two forces of equal strength, alternately winning and losing the battle for h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/joris-karl-huysmans-12855_battle_the-belief-that-man-is-an-irresolute-cre_2641214.jpg" --- # The belief that man is an irresolute creature pulled this… ![“The belief that man is an irresolute creature pulled this way and that by two forces of equal strength, alternately winning and losing the battle for his soul; the conviction that human life is nothing more than an uncertain struggle between heaven and hell; the faith in two opposed entities…” quote by Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/joris-karl-huysmans-12855_battle_the-belief-that-man-is-an-irresolute-cre_2641214.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/joris-karl-huysmans-12855_battle_the-belief-that-man-is-an-irresolute-cre_2641214.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/joris-karl-huysmans-12855_battle_the-belief-that-man-is-an-irresolute-cre_2641214.jpg) > “The belief that man is an irresolute creature pulled this way and that by two forces of equal strength, alternately winning and losing the battle for his soul; the conviction that human life is nothing more than an uncertain struggle between heaven and hell; the faith in two opposed entities, Satan and Christ - all this was bound to engender those internal discords in which the soul, excited by the incessant fighting, stimulated as it were by the constant promises and threats, ends up by giving in and prostitutes itself to whichever of the two combatants has been more obstinate in its pursuit.” [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) ## 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 describes humanity’s inner conflict between opposing forces, leading the soul to surrender to the more persistent influence. **In simple terms:** Human souls are torn between opposing forces, often yielding to the stronger one. Key Takeaway Beware of being swayed by dominant but conflicting influences. Themes conflict dualism spiritual morality choice Mood thoughtful serious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal decision making - ethical dilemmas - spiritual counseling - creative writing - debate Key Concepts theology psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What internal conflicts shape your choices? - How can you balance opposing influences? A Different Perspective It may simplify complex motivations to a binary struggle. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Discord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discord/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heaven and hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-hell/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Satan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satan/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Winning and losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning-and-losing/) ## Related quotes > [According to Christian belief, man exists for the sake of God; according to the liberal church, in practice if not in theory, God exists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/according-to-christian-belief-man-exists-for-the-sake-of-god/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [“It is a more rational belief that man may become a brute than that a brute may become a man; and it is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brewster/it-is-a-more-rational-belief-that-man-may-become-a-brute-than-that-a/) [David Brewster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brewster/) > [Throughout the history of Christianity, there had been a core of belief that man was not doomed to be everlastingly corrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-payne/throughout-the-history-of-christianity-there-had-been-a-core-of/) [Robert Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-payne/) > [“This formulation will not please the mass man or the collective believer. For the former the policy of the State is the supreme principle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/this-formulation-will-not-please-the-mass-man-or-the-collective/) [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) > [There are two men in each one of us: the scientist, he who starts with a clear field and desires to rise to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/there-are-two-men-in-each-one-of-us-the-scientist-he-who-starts-with/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [It is my belief no man ever understands quite his own artful dodges to escape from the grim shadow of self knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/it-is-my-belief-no-man-ever-understands-quite-his-own-artful-dodges/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [“The belief that a man who works hard can erase all his sins runs deep in the folds of my family, and, I suspect,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-price/the-belief-that-a-man-who-works-hard-can-erase-all-his-sins-runs-deep/) John T. Price > [I still feel there is a case to be made for my old belief that as man approaches the 'new heaven and the new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/i-still-feel-there-is-a-case-to-be-made-for-my-old-belief-that-as-man/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [“Many of us will also find it hard to abandon our belief that in man himself there dwells an impulse towards perfection, which has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/many-of-us-will-also-find-it-hard-to-abandon-our-belief-that-in-man/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“I didn't know what he was playing up to—if he was playing up to anything at all—and I suspect he did not know either;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/i-didn-t-know-what-he-was-playing-up-to-if-he-was-playing-up-to/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [It was from this experience came his oft-repeated belief that every man has but one destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/it-was-from-this-experience-came-his-oft-repeated-belief-that-every/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [I don't mean to say that I'm about to state my credo here on this page, but merely to affirm, sincerely for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-don-t-mean-to-say-that-i-m-about-to-state-my-credo-here-on-this/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Love is not about getting - but giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/love-is-not-about-getting-but-giving/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [I was burned so many times that I stopped giving interviews. In other words, if my words ended up in print, they were twisted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-garrison/i-was-burned-so-many-times-that-i-stopped-giving-interviews-in-other/) [Jim Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-garrison/) > [Having, First, gained all you can, and, Secondly saved all you can, Then give all you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/having-first-gained-all-you-can-and-secondly-saved-all-you-can-then/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) ## More by Joris-Karl Huysmans > [“I seek new perfumes, ampler blossoms, untried pleasures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/i-seek-new-perfumes-ampler-blossoms-untried-pleasures/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [Far from seeking to justify, as does the Church, the necessity of torments and afflictions, he cried, in his outraged pity: 'If a God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/far-from-seeking-to-justify-as-does-the-church-the-necessity-of/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [No longer was she merely the dancing-girl who extorts a cry of lust and concupiscence from an old man by the lascivious contortions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/no-longer-was-she-merely-the-dancing-girl-who-extorts-a-cry-of-lust/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [Ah; but my courage fails me, and my heart is sick within me! —Lord, take pity on the Christian who doubts, on the skeptic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/ah-but-my-courage-fails-me-and-my-heart-is-sick-within-me-lord-take/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [“There is not one single invention of (Nature's), however subtle or impressive it may be thought to be, that the human spirit cannot create;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/there-is-not-one-single-invention-of-nature-s-however-subtle-or/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [“Ah, when one has not the gift of rendering one's grief superbly and transforming it into literary or musical passages which weep magnificently, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/ah-when-one-has-not-the-gift-of-rendering-one-s-grief-superbly-and/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [“He wanted, in short, a work of art both for what it was in itself and for what it allowed him to bestow on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/he-wanted-in-short-a-work-of-art-both-for-what-it-was-in-itself-and/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [(Baudelaire) had descended to the bottom of the inexhaustible mine, had picked his way along abandoned or unexplored galleries, and had finally reached those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/baudelaire-had-descended-to-the-bottom-of-the-inexhaustible-mine-had/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [“What he wanted was colours which would appear stronger and clearer in artificial light. He did not particularly care if they looked crude or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/what-he-wanted-was-colours-which-would-appear-stronger-and-clearer-in/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [I wish to confound all these people, to create a work of art of a supernatural realism and of a spiritualist naturalism. I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/i-wish-to-confound-all-these-people-to-create-a-work-of-art-of-a/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [“The Louis XIII style in perfumery, composed of the elements dear to that period - orris-powder, musk, civet and myrtle-water, already known by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/the-louis-xiii-style-in-perfumery-composed-of-the-elements-dear-to/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [The only really indecent people are the chaste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/the-only-really-indecent-people-are-the-chaste/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [“Go forth more boldly, look at things more widely, pray as best you can, and do not trouble yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/go-forth-more-boldly-look-at-things-more-widely-pray-as-best-you-can/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [“He cared little for commonly experienced emotions, for everyday associations of ideas, now that the closing of his mind had grown more pronounced, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/he-cared-little-for-commonly-experienced-emotions-for-everyday/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) > [His contempt for humanity grew fiercer, and at last he came to realize that the world is made up mostly of fools and scoundrels.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/his-contempt-for-humanity-grew-fiercer-and-at-last-he-came-to-realize/) [Joris-Karl Huysmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) [Explore all 50 Joris-Karl Huysmans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. 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But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The belief that man is an irresolute creature pulled this way and that by two forces of equal strength, alternately winning and losing the battle for his soul; the conviction that human life is nothing more than an uncertain struggle between heaven and hell; the faith in two opposed entities, Satan and Christ - all this was bound to engender those internal discords in which the soul, excited by the incessant fighting, stimulated as it were by the constant promises and threats, ends up by giving in and prostitutes itself to whichever of the two combatants has been more obstinate in its pursuit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joris-Karl Huysmans" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/the-belief-that-man-is-an-irresolute-creature-pulled-this-way-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/the-belief-that-man-is-an-irresolute-creature-pulled-this-way-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/joris-karl-huysmans-12855_battle_the-belief-that-man-is-an-irresolute-cre_2641214.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/joris-karl-huysmans-12855_battle_the-belief-that-man-is-an-irresolute-cre_2641214.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ef/joris-karl-huysmans-12855_battle_the-belief-that-man-is-an-irresolute-cre_2641214.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The belief that man is an irresolute creature pulled this way and that by two forces of equal strength…” — Joris-Karl Huysmans", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joris-Karl Huysmans", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joris-karl-huysmans/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The belief that man is an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/the-belief-that-man-is-an-irresolute-creature-pulled-this-way-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joris-karl-huysmans/the-belief-that-man-is-an-irresolute-creature-pulled-this-way-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```