“One might almost make a rule of it: "Whoever declares another heretic is himself a devil. Whoever places a relic or artifact above justice, kindness, mercy, or truth is himself a devil and the thing elevated is a work of evil magic."”
Arnole, in Ch. 45 : not in conclusion
The Visitor (2002)
Context: Ignorance perpetuates itself just as knowledge does. Men write false documents, they preach false doctrine, and those beliefs survive to inspire wickedness in later generations.... Conversely, some men write and teach about the truth, only to be declared heretic by the wicked. In such cases evil has the advantage, for it will do anything to suppress truth, but the good man limits what he will do to suppress falsehood.
One might almost make a rule of it: "Whoever declares another heretic is himself a devil. Whoever places a relic or artifact above justice, kindness, mercy, or truth is himself a devil and the thing elevated is a work of evil magic."
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Sheri S. Tepper 150
American fiction writer 1929–2016Related quotes
“Whoever does not pray to God, prays to the devil.”
Pope Francis quotes Bloy in his first homily as Pope. Pope Francis: 1st homily. Missa pro Ecclesiae in the Sistine Chapel http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-1st-homily-full-text
“Whoever is in control of the hell in your life, is your devil.”
“The truth is that even the devil himself believes in the existence of God.”
Gorgias.
Dyskolos
Context: Even if you were a softy, you took the mattock, you dug,
you were willing to work. In this part he most shows himself a man,
whoever tolerates making himself equal to another,
rich to poor. For this man will bear a change of fortune
with self-control. You have given a sufficient proof of your character.
I wish only that you remain as you are.
Essay to Leo Baeck (1953), The New Quotable Einstein.
1950s, Essay to Leo Baeck (1953)
paraphrased variant:
We should not be simply fighting evil in the name of good, but struggling against the certainties of people who claim always to know where good and evil are to be found.
Source: Hope and Memory: Reflections on the Twentieth Century (2003), Ch. 5 : The Past in the Present, p. 195
“You're a perfect devil, Lestat!" "That's what you are! You are the devil himself!”
Source: The Queen of the Damned
Source: On Empire, Liberty, and Reform: Speeches and Letters