Heretics Quote by Louis-Ferdinand Céline
““The religion of the flag promptly replaced the cult of heaven, an old cloud which had already been deflated by the Reformation and reduced to a network of episcopal money boxes. In olden times the fanatical fashion was: 'Long live Jesus! Burn the heretics!' . . . But heretics, after all, were few and voluntary . . . Whereas today vast hordes of men are fired with aim and purpose by cries of ‘Hang the limp turnips! The juiceless lemons! The innocent readers! By the millions, eyes right!’ If anybody doesn’t want to fight or murder, grab ‘em, tear ‘em to pieces! Kill them in thirteen juicy ways. For a starter, to teach them how to live, rip their guts out of their bodies, their eyes out of their sockets, and the years out of their filthy slobbering lives!””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Journey to the End of the Night, Louis-Ferdinand Céline, 1932
A satirical attack on how nationalism replaces religious faith, glorifying violent fanaticism and dehumanizing enemies.
In simple terms: Nationalism fuels violence and replaces spiritual belief.
Key Takeaway
Beware blind patriotism and its capacity for cruelty.
Themes
nationalism
violence
fanaticism
dehumanization
satire
Mood
cynical
critical
provocative
Type
political
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political rallies
- propaganda campaigns
- online hate groups
- military recruitment
- social media echo chambers
Key Concepts
existentialism
political critique
psychology of mob behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- How does nationalism shape personal identity?
- What safeguards prevent extremist rhetoric?
A Different Perspective
The quote exaggerates for effect; real-world contexts may be less extreme.
![“Heretics are the only [bitter] remedy against the entropy of human thought. ("Literature, Revolution, and Entropy")” quote by Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b17/yevgeny-zamyatin-1218_art_heretics-are-the-only-bitter-remedy-agai_72896.jpg)
