--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Suppose neutral angels were able to talk…" description: "\"“Suppose neutral angels were able to talk, Yahweh and Lucifer – God and Satan, to use their popular titles – into settling out of court. What would be ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/tom-robbins-169_god_suppose-neutral-angels-were-able-to-talk_116945.jpg" --- # Suppose neutral angels were able to talk, Yahweh and… ![“Suppose neutral angels were able to talk, Yahweh and Lucifer – God and Satan, to use their popular titles – into settling out of court. What would be the terms of the compromise? Specifically, how would they divide the assets of their early kingdom? Would God be satisfied the loaves and fishes and…” quote by Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/tom-robbins-169_god_suppose-neutral-angels-were-able-to-talk_116945.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/tom-robbins-169_god_suppose-neutral-angels-were-able-to-talk_116945.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/tom-robbins-169_god_suppose-neutral-angels-were-able-to-talk_116945.jpg) > ““Suppose neutral angels were able to talk, Yahweh and Lucifer – God and Satan, to use their popular titles – into settling out of court. What would be the terms of the compromise? Specifically, how would they divide the assets of their early kingdom? Would God be satisfied the loaves and fishes and itty-bitty thimbles of Communion wine, while Satan to have the red-eye gravy, eighteen-ounce New York Stakes, and buckets of chilled champagne? Would God really accept twice-a-month lovemaking for procreative purposes and give Satan the all night, no-holds-barred, nasty “can’t-get-enough-of-you” hot-as-hell-fucks? Think about it. Would Satan get New Orleans, Bangkok, and the French Riviera and God get Salt Lake City? Satan get ice hockey, God get horseshoes? God get bingo, Satan get stud poker? Satan get LSD; God, Prozac? God get Neil Simon; Satan Oscar Wilde?”” [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A satirical thought experiment imagines a negotiation between God and Satan, using modern consumer symbols to highlight moral absurdities and cultural binaries. **In simple terms:** God and Satan bargain over worldly pleasures. Key Takeaway Moral opposites can be reframed as trade negotiations. Themes satire religion culture consumerism Mood playful ironic Type humorous parodic When to use this quote - political commentary - artistic critique Key Concepts dualism absurdism Practical Applications - use humor to question binary moral narratives Questions to Reflect On - What does the absurdity reveal about our real moral priorities? - Does framing divine conflict as a market exchange undermine reverence? A Different Perspective The humor may trivialize profound theological concepts for some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Ice hockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice-hockey/) [New orleans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-orleans/) [Satan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satan/) ## Related quotes > [“My first example concerns Satan’s efforts to corrupt a person who has an unusual commitment to one particular doctrine or commandment of the gospel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/my-first-example-concerns-satan-s-efforts-to-corrupt-a-person-who-has/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [“If Satan can use our everyday experiences, both big and small, to cripple our true identity, then he renders God’s people totally ineffective for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/if-satan-can-use-our-everyday-experiences-both-big-and-small-to/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [I think if you were Satan and you were settin around tryin to think up somethin that would just bring the human race to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/i-think-if-you-were-satan-and-you-were-settin-around-tryin-to-think-2/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [People seem to think I'm Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-west/people-seem-to-think-i-m-satan/) [Dominic West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-west/) > [“I used to think that Satan and all the fallen angels were the most evil beings in the universe. Now I think it’s absurd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-used-to-think-that-satan-and-all-the-fallen-angels-were-the-most/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“I think if you were Satan and you were settin around tryin to think up somethin that would just bring the human race to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/i-think-if-you-were-satan-and-you-were-settin-around-tryin-to-think/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [If I read the articles about me, and I didn't know me, I would think I was Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/if-i-read-the-articles-about-me-and-i-didn-t-know-me-i-would-think-i/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [“When I think about satan, my thoughts go to how Jesus interacted with him in the desert. Jesus spoke with him for just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/when-i-think-about-satan-my-thoughts-go-to-how-jesus-interacted-with/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [And I know your next move, I watch you so much, 'There's been no proven link between the secular state of Iraq and al-Qaeda!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/and-i-know-your-next-move-i-watch-you-so-much-there-s-been-no-proven/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [“I think thus of Satan's pride: it is difficult for us on earth to comprehend it, and therefore, how easy it is to fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-think-thus-of-satan-s-pride-it-is-difficult-for-us-on-earth-to/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [If you're a conservative, you think I'm Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-colmes/if-you-re-a-conservative-you-think-i-m-satan/) [Alan Colmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-colmes/) > [Nobody loves the rat race, but nobody can think of anything else—Satan has us just where he wants us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/nobody-loves-the-rat-race-but-nobody-can-think-of-anything-else-satan/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [Look on the bright side, the devil likes to call gay people fags, just like you do. I think you and Satan have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/look-on-the-bright-side-the-devil-likes-to-call-gay-people-fags-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But as a Christian, let me say Merry Christmas on a national holiday called Christmas and you’d think Satan incarnate himself just showed up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-hutcherson/but-as-a-christian-let-me-say-merry-christmas-on-a-national-holiday/) [Ken Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-hutcherson/) > [I've got many, many demons that affect me on many, many levels. A few years ago, I was convinced of that - I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-ve-got-many-many-demons-that-affect-me-on-many-many-levels-a-few/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) ## More by Tom Robbins > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“I believe in everything; nothing is sacred. I believe in nothing; everything is sacred. Ha Ha Ho Ho Hee Hee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/i-believe-in-everything-nothing-is-sacred-i-believe-in-nothing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [A sense of humor...is superior to any religion so far devised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/a-sense-of-humor-is-superior-to-any-religion-so-far-devised/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the-2/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“The glue that holds the natural world together appears to be a harmonious balance of opposites: day and night, light and dark, winter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-glue-that-holds-the-natural-world-together-appears-to-be-a/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Zippers are primal and modern at the very same time. On the one hand, your zipper is primitive and reptilian, on the other, mechanical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/zippers-are-primal-and-modern-at-the-very-same-time-on-the-one-hand/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“religion is a paramount contributor to human misery. It is not merely the opium of the masses, it is the cyanide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/religion-is-a-paramount-contributor-to-human-misery-it-is-not-merely/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [She continued weeping until the heat of her tear water, the sheer velocity of its flow, finally obscured the already vague circumstances of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/she-continued-weeping-until-the-heat-of-her-tear-water-the-sheer/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [When we accept small wonders, we qualify ourselves to imagine great wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/when-we-accept-small-wonders-we-qualify-ourselves-to-imagine-great/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Explore all 994 Tom Robbins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Suppose neutral angels were able to talk, Yahweh and Lucifer – God and Satan, to use their popular titles – into settling out of court. What would be the terms of the compromise? Specifically, how would they divide the assets of their early kingdom? Would God be satisfied the loaves and fishes and itty-bitty thimbles of Communion wine, while Satan to have the red-eye gravy, eighteen-ounce New York Stakes, and buckets of chilled champagne? Would God really accept twice-a-month lovemaking for procreative purposes and give Satan the all night, no-holds-barred, nasty “can’t-get-enough-of-you” hot-as-hell-fucks? Think about it. Would Satan get New Orleans, Bangkok, and the French Riviera and God get Salt Lake City? Satan get ice hockey, God get horseshoes? God get bingo, Satan get stud poker? Satan get LSD; God, Prozac? God get Neil Simon; Satan Oscar Wilde?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Robbins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/suppose-neutral-angels-were-able-to-talk-yahweh-and-lucifer-god-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "God" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/suppose-neutral-angels-were-able-to-talk-yahweh-and-lucifer-god-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/tom-robbins-169_god_suppose-neutral-angels-were-able-to-talk_116945.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/tom-robbins-169_god_suppose-neutral-angels-were-able-to-talk_116945.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/tom-robbins-169_god_suppose-neutral-angels-were-able-to-talk_116945.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Suppose neutral angels were able to talk, Yahweh and Lucifer – God and Satan, to use their popular titles –…” — Tom Robbins", "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": "Tom Robbins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Suppose neutral angels were able to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/suppose-neutral-angels-were-able-to-talk-yahweh-and-lucifer-god-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/suppose-neutral-angels-were-able-to-talk-yahweh-and-lucifer-god-and/#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 } } ] } ```