--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maybe we’re assigning Achilles…" description: "\"“Maybe we’re assigning Achilles supernatural powers,” said Petra. “He isn’t a god. Not even a hero. Just a sick kid.” “No,” said Bean. “I’m a sick kid...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/orson-scott-card-134_achilles_maybe-we-re-assigning-achilles-supernatu_566220.png" --- # Maybe we’re assigning Achilles supernatural powers,” said… ![“Maybe we’re assigning Achilles supernatural powers,” said Petra. “He isn’t a god. Not even a hero. Just a sick kid.” “No,” said Bean. “I’m a sick kid. He’s the devil.” “Well, so,” said Petra, “maybe the devil’s a sick kid.” quote by Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/orson-scott-card-134_achilles_maybe-we-re-assigning-achilles-supernatu_566220.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/orson-scott-card-134_achilles_maybe-we-re-assigning-achilles-supernatu_566220.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/077/orson-scott-card-134_achilles_maybe-we-re-assigning-achilles-supernatu_566220.png) > ““Maybe we’re assigning Achilles supernatural powers,” said Petra. “He isn’t a god. Not even a hero. Just a sick kid.” “No,” said Bean. “I’m a sick kid. He’s the devil.” “Well, so,” said Petra, “maybe the devil’s a sick kid.”” [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Characters debate the nature of a child-like antagonist, questioning whether evil is inherent or a result of circumstance. **In simple terms:** They discuss if the antagonist is a hero, a devil, or just a sick child. Key Takeaway Consider context before labeling others as evil. Themes morality identity conflict perception Mood thoughtful critical philosophical Type dialogue thematic literary When to use this quote - bullying - war - family disputes - legal judgments - media criticism Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What factors shape a person's actions? - Can evil be separated from circumstance? A Different Perspective Simplistic labels ignore complexity and may hinder understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achilles/) ## Related quotes > [Maybe the devil in human beings isn't the reflection of the devil, perhaps the devil is only a reflection of the savagery and brutality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/maybe-the-devil-in-human-beings-isn-t-the-reflection-of-the-devil/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“I'm the furthest thing from an angel my love, if anything I'm the devil." "Maybe all the devil wanted was love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/palepinkferriswheel/i-m-the-furthest-thing-from-an-angel-my-love-if-anything-i-m-the/) Palepinkferriswheel > [But if you caught my informant,' said Achilles, 'why in the world would Chamrajnagar—or Graff, if it was him—launch the shuttle anyway? Was catching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/but-if-you-caught-my-informant-said-achilles-why-in-the-world-would/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“Besides," said Suriyawong. "This was not a rescue operation." "What was it, target practice? Chinese skeet?" "An offer of transportation to an invited guest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/besides-said-suriyawong-this-was-not-a-rescue-operation-what-was-it/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“I’m on his death list, too.” “Then why are you still alive?” asked Peter. “Because, contrary to widespread belief, Achilles is not a genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-m-on-his-death-list-too-then-why-are-you-still-alive-asked-peter/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“When Achilles is most useful and loyal to you, that is when he has most certainly betrayed you”?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/when-achilles-is-most-useful-and-loyal-to-you-that-is-when-he-has/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“You’re a strange kind of boy,” said Achilles. “I was not tested for normality before I was entrusted with this mission,” said Suriyawong. “But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/you-re-a-strange-kind-of-boy-said-achilles-i-was-not-tested-for/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“So you’re coming along with me, increasing our risk of being identified and allowing Achilles to get his two worst nemeses with one well-placed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/so-you-re-coming-along-with-me-increasing-our-risk-of-being/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“Achilles acted as if he had already won, and because the other kids followed him, he had.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/achilles-acted-as-if-he-had-already-won-and-because-the-other-kids/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“To have Achilles’s gratitude was clearly a terminal disease.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/to-have-achilles-s-gratitude-was-clearly-a-terminal-disease/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [There comes a point where certain things are becoming my Achilles heel; you know when you start repeating yourself and saying the same anecdotes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-elson/there-comes-a-point-where-certain-things-are-becoming-my-achilles/) [Karen Elson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-elson/) > [“Patroclus, he says, Patroclus. Patroclus. Over and over until it is sound only.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/patroclus-he-says-patroclus-patroclus-over-and-over-until-it-is-sound/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [Ah, beer, my one weakness. My Achille's heel, if you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ah-beer-my-one-weakness-my-achille-s-heel-if-you-will/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Bury us, and mark our names above. Let us be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/bury-us-and-mark-our-names-above-let-us-be-free/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [Suppose that we are wise enough to learn and know-and yet not wise enough to control our learning and knowledge, so that we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/suppose-that-we-are-wise-enough-to-learn-and-know-and-yet-not-wise/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## More by Orson Scott Card > [“You underestimate yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/you-underestimate-yourself/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“Why did he hesitate? 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If what we think of as reality is just a pattern that somebody brought Outside, and the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/where-did-this-whole-thing-begin-if-what-we-think-of-as-reality-is/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) [Explore all 1,158 Orson Scott Card quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) ## More Achilles quotes > [Suppose that we are wise enough to learn and know-and yet not wise enough to control our learning and knowledge, so that we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/suppose-that-we-are-wise-enough-to-learn-and-know-and-yet-not-wise/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Bury us, and mark our names above. Let us be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/bury-us-and-mark-our-names-above-let-us-be-free/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [Ah, beer, my one weakness. My Achille's heel, if you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ah-beer-my-one-weakness-my-achille-s-heel-if-you-will/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Patroclus, he says, Patroclus. Patroclus. Over and over until it is sound only.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/patroclus-he-says-patroclus-patroclus-over-and-over-until-it-is-sound/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [There comes a point where certain things are becoming my Achilles heel; you know when you start repeating yourself and saying the same anecdotes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-elson/there-comes-a-point-where-certain-things-are-becoming-my-achilles/) [Karen Elson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-elson/) > [To reveal imprudently the spot where we are most sensitive and vulnerable is to invite a blow. The demigod Achilles admitted no one to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/to-reveal-imprudently-the-spot-where-we-are-most-sensitive-and/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Like Achilles, the hero who forgot his heel, or like Icarus who, flying close to the sun, forgot that his wings were made of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-longenecker/like-achilles-the-hero-who-forgot-his-heel-or-like-icarus-who-flying/) [Dwight Longenecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-longenecker/) > [And overpowered by memory Both men gave way to grief. Priam wept freely For man - killing Hector, throbbing, crouching Before Achilles' feet as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/and-overpowered-by-memory-both-men-gave-way-to-grief-priam-wept/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Briseis is kneeling by my body. She has brought water and cloth, and washes the blood and dirt from my skin. Her hands are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/briseis-is-kneeling-by-my-body-she-has-brought-water-and-cloth-and/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [When we consider the weak and nerveless periods of some literary men, who perchance in feet and inches come up to the standard oftheir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-we-consider-the-weak-and-nerveless-periods-of-some-literary-men/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Personal integrity in Achilles achieves the form and authority of immanent divinity, with its inviolable, lonely singleness, half repellent because of its almost inhuman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-h-whitman/personal-integrity-in-achilles-achieves-the-form-and-authority-of/) [Cedric H Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-h-whitman/) > [As the Cameroonian philosopher Achille Mbembe has presciently pointed out, neoliberal corporate globalism threatens to exploit that advantage like never before, and it seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-naffis-sahely/as-the-cameroonian-philosopher-achille-mbembe-has-presciently-pointed/) [Andre Naffis-Sahely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-naffis-sahely/) > [“I listened and did not speak. Achilles’ eyes were bright in the firelight, his face drawn sharply by the flickering shadows. I would know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-listened-and-did-not-speak-achilles-eyes-were-bright-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At Achilles tomb, O fortunate youth, to have found Homer as the herald of your glory!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/at-achilles-tomb-o-fortunate-youth-to-have-found-homer-as-the-herald/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [The Achilles Heel of the Americas was the lack of cultural confidence typical of new settlers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-erickson/the-achilles-heel-of-the-americas-was-the-lack-of-cultural-confidence/) [Arthur Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-erickson/) [Browse all 180 Achilles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achilles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Maybe we’re assigning Achilles supernatural powers,” said Petra. “He isn’t a god. 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