Present day Quote by Kurt Vonnegut
““The first something to be implied by all the nothing was in fact two somethings, who were God and Satan. God was male. Satan was female. They implied each other, and hence were peers in the emerging power structure, which was itself nothing but an implication. Power was implied by weakness. Satan [...] couldn't undo anything God had done. She could at least try to make existence for His little toys less painful. She could see what He couldn't: To be alive was to be either bored or scared stiff. So she filled an apple with all sorts of ideas that might at least relieve the boredom, such as rules for games with cards and dice, and how to fuck [...] Satan had a serpent give Eve the apple. Eve took a bite and handed it to Adam. He took a bite, and then they fucked." [...] "All Satan wanted to do was help, and she did in many cases. And her record for promoting nostrums with occasionally dreadful side effects is no worse than that of the most reputable pharmaceutical houses of the present day.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, 1963
The passage satizes gendered power dynamics, portraying God and Satan as complementary forces whose interactions shape existence, with Satan introducing chaos and creativity to alleviate divine boredom.
In simple terms: God and Satan are shown as opposite but linked forces that create and change the world.
Recognize how opposing ideas can spark innovation.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- philosophical debate
- creative brainstorming
- ethical discussions
- cultural critique
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do opposing forces drive cultural evolution?
- What are the limits of using myth to explain human behavior?
The view reduces complex theological concepts to simplistic gender binaries, which may overlook deeper nuances.