--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first time he talked in that way he…" description: "\"“The first time he talked in that way he said something that I've never forgotten, because it horrified me; he said that the world isn't a creation, fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d90/w-somerset-maugham-237_first-time_the-first-time-he-talked-in-that-way-he_1529074.jpg" --- # The first time he talked in that way he said something… ![“The first time he talked in that way he said something that I've never forgotten, because it horrified me; he said that the world isn't a creation, for out of nothing nothing comes, but a manifestation of the eternal nature; well, that was all right, but then he added that evil is as direct a…” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d90/w-somerset-maugham-237_first-time_the-first-time-he-talked-in-that-way-he_1529074.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d90/w-somerset-maugham-237_first-time_the-first-time-he-talked-in-that-way-he_1529074.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d90/w-somerset-maugham-237_first-time_the-first-time-he-talked-in-that-way-he_1529074.jpg) > ““The first time he talked in that way he said something that I've never forgotten, because it horrified me; he said that the world isn't a creation, for out of nothing nothing comes, but a manifestation of the eternal nature; well, that was all right, but then he added that evil is as direct a manifestation of the divine as good. They were strange words to hear in that sordid, noisy café, to the accompaniment of dance tunes on the mechanical piano.”” [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The world is a manifestation of eternity, containing both good and evil equally. **In simple terms:** Evil and good both reflect the divine. Key Takeaway Recognize duality in existence. Themes theology philosophy duality Mood thoughtful philosophical Type literary reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - ethical debates - spiritual discussions Key Concepts eternalism morality Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile evil with a divine source? - Does seeing both as divine change moral judgments? A Different Perspective Some may reject the idea of evil as divine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Creation comes before distribution -- or there will be nothing to distribute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/creation-comes-before-distribution-or-there-will-be-nothing-to-2/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“Men have been taught that the highest virtue is not to achieve, but to give. Yet one cannot give that which has not been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/men-have-been-taught-that-the-highest-virtue-is-not-to-achieve-but-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Creation comes before distribution - or there will be nothing to distribute. 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