--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you dance with the devil, you don't…" description: "\"When you dance with the devil, you don't get to pick the tune.\" — Sherrilyn Kenyon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_dance_when-you-dance-with-the-devil-you-don-t_2218373.jpg" --- # When you dance with the devil, you don't get to pick the… ![“When you dance with the devil, you don't get to pick the tune.” quote by Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_dance_when-you-dance-with-the-devil-you-don-t_2218373.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_dance_when-you-dance-with-the-devil-you-don-t_2218373.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_dance_when-you-dance-with-the-devil-you-don-t_2218373.jpg) > “When you dance with the devil, you don't get to pick the tune.” [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Making a deal with a dangerous force limits your control over the outcome. **In simple terms:** Dealing with evil reduces your freedom of choice. Key Takeaway Beware of compromising with harmful influences. Themes power control consequences ethics Mood cautious serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - business negotiations - political alliances Key Concepts moral compromise agency risk Questions to Reflect On - Can you ever negotiate with a harmful entity without losing autonomy? - What alternatives exist to avoid such bargains? A Different Perspective The quote assumes all "devils" are equally malevolent, ignoring nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dance With The Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance-with-the-devil/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) ## Related quotes > [“If you dance with the devil, the devil don't change, he changes you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-roter/if-you-dance-with-the-devil-the-devil-don-t-change-he-changes-you/) Jordan Roter > [You really are here. (Thanatos) Hair of the dog, baby. Sooner or later, we all dance with the devil. Tonight, it’s your turn. (Zarek)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-really-are-here-thanatos-hair-of-the-dog-baby-sooner-or-later-we/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [So if the punks come here, they’re going to dance with the devil and get the short end of the horn. (Zarek) No one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/so-if-the-punks-come-here-they-re-going-to-dance-with-the-devil-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [So when the devil wants to dance with you, you better say never, Because the dance with the devil might last you forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/so-when-the-devil-wants-to-dance-with-you-you-better-say-never/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [Dance with the Devil and he may make you the king of Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/dance-with-the-devil-and-he-may-make-you-the-king-of-hell/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [When you dance with the devil, the devil doesn't change. The devil changes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/when-you-dance-with-the-devil-the-devil-doesn-t-change-the-devil/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [I'm Jewish. I've always had a thing where it's okay to dance with the devil, just don't become the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/i-m-jewish-i-ve-always-had-a-thing-where-it-s-okay-to-dance-with-the-2/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [It's hard to dance with the Devil on your back, So shake him off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/it-s-hard-to-dance-with-the-devil-on-your-back-so-shake-him-off/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [“You gotta dance with the devil to get out of Hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/you-gotta-dance-with-the-devil-to-get-out-of-hell/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [When you dance with the devil, it might as well be a devil who can give you your own corner of hell to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/when-you-dance-with-the-devil-it-might-as-well-be-a-devil-who-can/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Sometimes in life there comes a time when one has to dance with the devil”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwangala-kamwi-joshua/sometimes-in-life-there-comes-a-time-when-one-has-to-dance-with-the/) Mwangala kamwi joshua > [The longer you dance with the devil, the longer you stay in hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-longer-you-dance-with-the-devil-the-longer-you-stay-in-hell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm Jewish. I've always had a thing where it's okay to dance with the devil, just don't become the devil. Even at my peak,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauly-shore/i-m-jewish-i-ve-always-had-a-thing-where-it-s-okay-to-dance-with-the/) [Pauly Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauly-shore/) > [“Have you ever wanted to dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?” Huh?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/have-you-ever-wanted-to-dance-with-the-devil-in-the-pale-moonlight-huh/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [When the devil wants to dance with you, you better say never, because a dance with the devil might last you forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levita-brahz/when-the-devil-wants-to-dance-with-you-you-better-say-never-because-a/) [Levita BRAHZ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levita-brahz/) ## More by Sherrilyn Kenyon > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I just can’t, Nick, okay? Now, please give me a second to lie here in silence and bleed.” – Caleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-just-can-t-nick-okay-now-please-give-me-a-second-to-lie-here-in/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“You are my life.” -Maris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-are-my-life-maris/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [It's easy to make mistakes. It's living with the consequences of them that's the hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/it-s-easy-to-make-mistakes-it-s-living-with-the-consequences-of-them/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I don't know," Valerius said. " I hear some godawful kind of music from outside, horns blaring, and I'm in a house with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-don-t-know-valerius-said-i-hear-some-godawful-kind-of-music-from/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Got to say, dying would really wreck my best day. Been there, done that, and now that I think about it, Artemis forgot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/got-to-say-dying-would-really-wreck-my-best-day-been-there-done-that/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Careful, human,” Hauk warned, showing Darling his fangs. “I might get hungry one of these nights and decide we no longer need a weaptech.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/careful-human-hauk-warned-showing-darling-his-fangs-i-might-get/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Be that as it may, we do need you in particular to complete this assignment. (Syd) What is it with you government assholes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/be-that-as-it-may-we-do-need-you-in-particular-to-complete-this/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The only way to have eternal love is to never let your heart forget what it’s like to live without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-only-way-to-have-eternal-love-is-to-never-let-your-heart-forget/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I'm only one kill away from Command Assassin. Be a damn shame for that kill to be you" (Darion)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-m-only-one-kill-away-from-command-assassin-be-a-damn-shame-for-that/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I’m getting all warm and fuzzy inside at the prospect of these demon things roaming the street, preying on us. (Tate)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-m-getting-all-warm-and-fuzzy-inside-at-the-prospect-of-these-demon/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Then Olympus it is. But do try to behave. I know it’s hard for you, but… (Delphine) I won’t piss on the floor. (Jericho)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/then-olympus-it-is-but-do-try-to-behave-i-know-it-s-hard-for-you-but/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Funny how internal scars never healed. They were the souvenirs of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/funny-how-internal-scars-never-healed-they-were-the-souvenirs-of-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Hear me Isis as I pray. See her pain and take it all away. Let the heaven's light shine bright from above. And wrap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/hear-me-isis-as-i-pray-see-her-pain-and-take-it-all-away-let-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) [Explore all 3,050 Sherrilyn Kenyon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) ## More Dance quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [My body was so instrumental to how I took pictures: it was practically a dance. I used to use my legs a lot; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-body-was-so-instrumental-to-how-i-took-pictures-it-was-practically/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/being-fit-is-the-easiest-part-of-being-a-dance-professional-i-used-to/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) [Browse all 9,682 Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you dance with the devil, you don't get to pick the tune.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sherrilyn Kenyon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/when-you-dance-with-the-devil-you-don-t-get-to-pick-the-tune/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/when-you-dance-with-the-devil-you-don-t-get-to-pick-the-tune/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_dance_when-you-dance-with-the-devil-you-don-t_2218373.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_dance_when-you-dance-with-the-devil-you-don-t_2218373.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/604/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_dance_when-you-dance-with-the-devil-you-don-t_2218373.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you dance with the devil, you don't get to pick the tune.” — Sherrilyn Kenyon", "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": "Sherrilyn Kenyon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you dance with the devil,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/when-you-dance-with-the-devil-you-don-t-get-to-pick-the-tune/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/when-you-dance-with-the-devil-you-don-t-get-to-pick-the-tune/#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 } } ] } ```