Hale: Here is all the invisible world, caught, defined, and calculated. In these books the Devil stands stripped of all his brute disguises. Here are all your familiar spirits - your incubi and succubi; your witches that go by land, by air, and by sea; your wizards of the night and of the day. Have no fear now - we shall find him out if he has come among us, and I mean to crush him utterly if he has shown his face! Rebecca: Will it hurt the child, sir? Hale: I cannot tell. If she is truly in the Devil's grip we may have to rip and tear to get her free.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Relying on superstition to solve problems can lead to harm against innocent people.
- In plain terms
- Books about the devil and wizards promise answers but may hurt the innocent.
- What can you take from it?
- Superstition justifies violence against the innocent.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When did fear override common sense?
- Who benefits from superstition?
Another view
The excerpt mixes fictional dialogue with specific historical context not fully explained.
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