--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Angels and demons, heaven and hell, God…" description: "\"“Angels and demons, heaven and hell, God, morality, law and language. It’s all metaphor. Scaffolding to handle the areas where base reality won’t cut i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/richard-k-morgan-3983_angels-and-demons_angels-and-demons-heaven-and-hell-god-mo_947535.png" --- # Angels and demons, heaven and hell, God, morality, law and… ![“Angels and demons, heaven and hell, God, morality, law and language. It’s all metaphor. Scaffolding to handle the areas where base reality won’t cut it for you guys, where it’s too cold for humans to live without something made up. We codify our hopes and fears and wants, and then build whole…” quote by Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/richard-k-morgan-3983_angels-and-demons_angels-and-demons-heaven-and-hell-god-mo_947535.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/richard-k-morgan-3983_angels-and-demons_angels-and-demons-heaven-and-hell-god-mo_947535.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44f/richard-k-morgan-3983_angels-and-demons_angels-and-demons-heaven-and-hell-god-mo_947535.png) > ““Angels and demons, heaven and hell, God, morality, law and language. It’s all metaphor. Scaffolding to handle the areas where base reality won’t cut it for you guys, where it’s too cold for humans to live without something made up. We codify our hopes and fears and wants, and then build whole societies on the code. And then forget it ever was code and treat it like fact. Act like the universe gives a shit about it. Go to war over it, string men and women up by the neck for it. Firebomb trains and skyscrapers in the name of it.”” [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human constructs like religion and law are metaphorical scaffolding that become reified, leading to conflict when treated as absolute truth. **In simple terms:** Ideas become facts, causing wars. Key Takeaway Question the absoluteness of belief systems. Themes philosophy religion politics conflict Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - debate clubs - policy making - ethical training - conflict resolution Key Concepts social constructs metaphor ideology Questions to Reflect On - What metaphors do we treat as literal? - How can societies keep symbolic ideas flexible? A Different Perspective Treating metaphors as literal can fuel violence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angels and demons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angels-and-demons/) [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Heaven and hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-hell/) [Hopes and fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopes-and-fears/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [A simile is just a metaphor with the scaffolding still up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-geary/a-simile-is-just-a-metaphor-with-the-scaffolding-still-up/) [James Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-geary/) > [“Language is metaphor in the sense that it not only stores but translates experience from one mode into another. Money is metaphor in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/language-is-metaphor-in-the-sense-that-it-not-only-stores-but/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [“Language is a metaphor for experience. It’s as arbitrary as the mass of chaotic images we call memory–but we can put it into lines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yuknavitch/language-is-a-metaphor-for-experience-it-s-as-arbitrary-as-the-mass/) [Lidia Yuknavitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-yuknavitch/) > [It seems clear that the Bible belongs to an area of language in which metaphor is functional, and were we have to surrender precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/it-seems-clear-that-the-bible-belongs-to-an-area-of-language-in-which/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [“They said, “let me tell you a story, a true story, a story about good and evil, … a story that lives inside of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mano-sotelo/they-said-let-me-tell-you-a-story-a-true-story-a-story-about-good-and/) Mano Sotelo > [“Angels and demons are not distant beings—they are reflections of our highest and lowest states.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mano-sotelo/angels-and-demons-are-not-distant-beings-they-are-reflections-of-our/) Mano Sotelo > [“Traditionally, Muslims and Christians have shared this understanding. Each believes in truth, not the least because they believe their faith is true. But their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabeel-qureshi/traditionally-muslims-and-christians-have-shared-this-understanding/) [Nabeel Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabeel-qureshi/) > [“The war represents internal conflict, while Heaven symbolizes the present moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mano-sotelo/the-war-represents-internal-conflict-while-heaven-symbolizes-the/) Mano Sotelo > [“I cannot ever imagine a time or place in which I will not love you. I am willing to do whatever it takes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-morgan/i-cannot-ever-imagine-a-time-or-place-in-which-i-will-not-love-you-i/) Laura Morgan > [“I have to admit I wasn't to keen on this idea when you first told me you were going out at midnight to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karice-bolton/i-have-to-admit-i-wasn-t-to-keen-on-this-idea-when-you-first-told-me/) [Karice Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karice-bolton/) > [“Time is tick, tick, ticking away. How many souls will I capture today? Will they be a challenge or will they be given? Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-kuykendall/time-is-tick-tick-ticking-away-how-many-souls-will-i-capture-today/) [A.K. Kuykendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-k-kuykendall/) > [“There was a truth there. A wound just like she said. One that ran deep across the soul and stung the air as well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-stanfield/there-was-a-truth-there-a-wound-just-like-she-said-one-that-ran-deep/) Christopher Stanfield > [“A hand in mine.. hot. Breath on my neck... sweet. The feel of lips on my own... forbidden.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-fonseca/a-hand-in-mine-hot-breath-on-my-neck-sweet-the-feel-of-lips-on-my-own/) [Christine Fonseca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-fonseca/) > [“Death walks among us”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-n-hammerstone/death-walks-among-us/) [S.K.N. Hammerstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-n-hammerstone/) > [“Something was bleeding… and something was broken. It was my heart… because I had to leave you. (Chase to Rayne)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-brockman/something-was-bleeding-and-something-was-broken-it-was-my-heart/) Kimberly Brockman ## More by Richard K. Morgan > [“Pull on the new flesh like borrowed gloves and burn your fingers once again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/pull-on-the-new-flesh-like-borrowed-gloves-and-burn-your-fingers-once/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [The way I see it, anyone who's proud of their country is either a thug or just hasn't read enough history yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/the-way-i-see-it-anyone-who-s-proud-of-their-country-is-either-a-thug/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“These are pious, clean-living men, worshipping at the temple of their own bodies.” “Hmm. Sounds distinctly erotic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/these-are-pious-clean-living-men-worshipping-at-the-temple-of-their/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [As to the differences between game work and novel writing, well, obviously the former is a lot less lonely - you're in and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/as-to-the-differences-between-game-work-and-novel-writing-well/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“ Books — the warm, leather-skinned weight of them in your hands, the way they smelled when you lifted them close to your face.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/books-the-warm-leather-skinned-weight-of-them-in-your-hands-the-way/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“In any agenda, political or otherwise, there is a cost to be borne. Always ask what it is, and who will be paying. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/in-any-agenda-political-or-otherwise-there-is-a-cost-to-be-borne/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“... it’s just business, it’s politics, it’s the way of the world, it’s a tough life and that it’s nothing personal. Well, fuck them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/it-s-just-business-it-s-politics-it-s-the-way-of-the-world-it-s-a/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [I've seen 'True Detective' end-to-end at least three times; I'll probably see it again. It is a work of dark brilliance. But if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/i-ve-seen-true-detective-end-to-end-at-least-three-times-i-ll/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“The human eye is a wonderful device,” I quoted from Poems and Other Prevarications absently. “With a little effort, it can fail to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/the-human-eye-is-a-wonderful-device-i-quoted-from-poems-and-other/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“Overhead soft-bellied clouds panic toward the horizon like whales before the harpoon, and the wind runs addict's fingers through the trees that line the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/overhead-soft-bellied-clouds-panic-toward-the-horizon-like-whales/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [Certainly a decade and a half out in the real world, bashing my head against things, probably made me into a more textured writer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/certainly-a-decade-and-a-half-out-in-the-real-world-bashing-my-head/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [Take what is offered and that must sometimes be enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/take-what-is-offered-and-that-must-sometimes-be-enough/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [The human eye is a wonderful device. With a little effort, it can fail to see even the most glaring injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/the-human-eye-is-a-wonderful-device-with-a-little-effort-it-can-fail/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“Well.” Ringil gave the Throne Eternal captain another brittle little smile. “You know, the thing about fucking is, it’s a lot less wear and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/well-ringil-gave-the-throne-eternal-captain-another-brittle-little/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“Men were like blades, they would all break sooner or later, you included. But you looked around at the men you led, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/men-were-like-blades-they-would-all-break-sooner-or-later-you/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) [Explore all 116 Richard K. Morgan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) ## More Angels and demons quotes > [“Something was bleeding… and something was broken. It was my heart… because I had to leave you. (Chase to Rayne)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-brockman/something-was-bleeding-and-something-was-broken-it-was-my-heart/) Kimberly Brockman > [“Death walks among us”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-n-hammerstone/death-walks-among-us/) [S.K.N. Hammerstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-n-hammerstone/) > [“A hand in mine.. hot. Breath on my neck... sweet. The feel of lips on my own... forbidden.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-fonseca/a-hand-in-mine-hot-breath-on-my-neck-sweet-the-feel-of-lips-on-my-own/) [Christine Fonseca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-fonseca/) > [“There was a truth there. A wound just like she said. One that ran deep across the soul and stung the air as well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-stanfield/there-was-a-truth-there-a-wound-just-like-she-said-one-that-ran-deep/) Christopher Stanfield > [“Time is tick, tick, ticking away. How many souls will I capture today? Will they be a challenge or will they be given? Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-kuykendall/time-is-tick-tick-ticking-away-how-many-souls-will-i-capture-today/) [A.K. Kuykendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-k-kuykendall/) > [“I have to admit I wasn't to keen on this idea when you first told me you were going out at midnight to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karice-bolton/i-have-to-admit-i-wasn-t-to-keen-on-this-idea-when-you-first-told-me/) [Karice Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karice-bolton/) > [“What is love, Mikayel? Isn't it the most irrational of all human emotions? And the one most forbidden?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-fonseca/what-is-love-mikayel-isn-t-it-the-most-irrational-of-all-human/) [Christine Fonseca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-fonseca/) > [Our minds sometimes see what our hearts wish were true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/our-minds-sometimes-see-what-our-hearts-wish-were-true/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“Oh, so there were angels and demons, but no vampires? No mysterious, super-hot bloodsuckers who would love you forever? Now that was totally unfair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alycia-linwood/oh-so-there-were-angels-and-demons-but-no-vampires-no-mysterious/) [Alycia Linwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alycia-linwood/) > [“Between death and hell a bridge shining silver wings offers his soul hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/between-death-and-hell-a-bridge-shining-silver-wings-offers-his-soul/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [“You sound skeptical," kohler said. "I thought you were a religious symbologist. Do you not believe in miracles?" "I'm undecided on miracles," Langdon said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/you-sound-skeptical-kohler-said-i-thought-you-were-a-religious/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [Since the beginning of time, spirituality and religion have been called to fill in the gaps that science did not understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/since-the-beginning-of-time-spirituality-and-religion-have-been/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“Like a porcelain facade, her outer shell was breaking away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-kuehlke/like-a-porcelain-facade-her-outer-shell-was-breaking-away/) L.A. Kuehlke > [Angels and demons were identical--interchangeable archetypes--all a matter of polarity. The guardian angel who conquered your enemy in battle was perceived by your enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/angels-and-demons-were-identical-interchangeable-archetypes-all-a/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“I cannot ever imagine a time or place in which I will not love you. I am willing to do whatever it takes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-morgan/i-cannot-ever-imagine-a-time-or-place-in-which-i-will-not-love-you-i/) Laura Morgan [Browse all 78 Angels and demons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angels-and-demons/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Angels and demons, heaven and hell, God, morality, law and language. It’s all metaphor. Scaffolding to handle the areas where base reality won’t cut it for you guys, where it’s too cold for humans to live without something made up. We codify our hopes and fears and wants, and then build whole societies on the code. 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