Hell Is Empty and All the Devils Are Here

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam

16 April 2026

Shakespeare fortnight (April 15-April 30) is being commemorated in England to mark the birthday and death (April 23) of the Bard of Avon. The universal wisdom of arguably the greatest playwright is relevant for all ages. His pithy observations make the readers marvel at his prophetic genius. What he wrote and observed 400 years ago makes sense in our times as well and will be valued forever. Remember, he wrote, " Hell is empty and all the devils are here " in his play, The Tempest. This is so true in today's context.

This quote is a haunting reminder of the pervasive presence of evil in human society. Through these words, Shakespeare encapsulates the belief that every evil imaginable exists within the realm of humanity itself, rather than reserved for a distant hell. It suggests that the world we inhabit is filled with wickedness and malevolence, with no escape from its clutches. This powerful statement serves as a cautionary reminder of the darkness that lies within our hearts and the constant battle to resist and triumph over it. Whether Trump, Netanyahu or any world leader, killing innocent people in the ongoing wars in many parts of the world, is a devil incarnate. The offspring of Satan have out-Heroded Herod with their fits of violence and cruelty.

These leaders aren't amenable to logic and basic sense or intelligence. No discussion with them will be fruitful as they're morons and monomaniacs. The Bard of Avon has a witty quote for such mutton-headed individuals: "I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but I see you are unarmed" from his play The Taming of the Shrew. But I must add that it's still debatable whether Shakespeare really wrote it. It’s been attributed to a number of people, including Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Dorothy Parker and Winston Churchill, but no one seems to know the original or primary source. Yet, a majority of scholars are of the view that it ensued from Shakespeare's mind and quill. Whoever said this, it's a very timely quote. By comparing the person's lack of wit to being unarmed, Shakespeare indicates that there would be no point in engaging in a battle with someone who is intellectually ill-equipped. The quote serves as a reminder of the power of wit and intelligence, highlighting the importance of engaging in meaningful intellectual exchange. At the moment, no world leader has even an iota of wit, let alone wisdom. Their craniums house bovine and porcine brains.

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