Quoting the Devil for Scripture

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Cadzao

#288543 Thu, 02 Nov 06 09:21 AM

"That the difference between the beautiful and the ugly (...) has important psychological effect is a commonplace, except in the field of city planning. If it be not quoting the Devil for Scripture, Nietzsche has written: "All that is ugly weakens and afflicts man (...)"

Is "Quoting the Devil for Scripture" the reverse of the proverb "The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose?"

Please explain the meaning (in the context) of the blue clause.

Thank you.

Cadzao

Cadzao

Joined on Wed, Sep 6 2006

Saigon Vietnam

Full Member (303)

Verbs, Difference Between, Clauses, Quoting

Mister Micawber

#288556 Thu, 02 Nov 06 10:57 AM

I think it is the same proverb in a different format, Cadzao. Presumably the writer does not like Nietzsche, but wishes to use a quote from him to illustrate or support his point.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (22,619)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Verbs, Quoting

Cadzao

#288597 Thu, 02 Nov 06 01:32 PM

Thank you, Mister Micawber. Your explanation makes the sentence quite clear.

Cadzao

Quoting

Marius Hancu

#288614 Thu, 02 Nov 06 02:03 PM

I think the author feels Niezsche isn't quite an authority in terms of distinguishing between the beautiful and ugly, taking in account what Niezsche wrote in his works.

Thus, he will quote him, even though (even with the reservation that) Niezsche isn't an authority on such subjects, just as the devil isn't an authority on the scripture.

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Quoting

Cadzao

#288704 Thu, 02 Nov 06 04:56 PM

Yes, this explanation seems much better.

That's very kind of you.

Thank you, Marius Hancu and Mister Micawber, for helping me.

Cadzao

Quoting

Marius Hancu

#288747 Thu, 02 Nov 06 08:34 PM

But my strong recommendation, in each field, would to read the original writers/creators (say Niezsche, Freud, Le Corbusier, etc), not the commentators. Don't lose your time, life is short, go to the essence.

Marius Hancu

Quoting