The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us; but he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. His attack is psychological, Damien. And powerful.

For I think belief in God is not a matter of reason at all; I think it finally is a matter of love.

Yet I think the demon's target is not the possessed; it is us . . . the observers . . . every person in this house. And I think---I think the point is to make us despair; to reject our own humanity, Damien: to see ourselves as ultimately bestial; as ultimately vile and putrescent; without dignity; ugly; unworthy.

As far as God goes, I _am_ a nonbeliever. Still am. But when it comes to a devil---well, that's something else.

The terror drifted over georgetown like the sun over a blind mans eyes

We use concepts like "consciousness"---"mind"---"personality," but we don't really know yet what these things are.' He was shaking his head. 'Not really. Not at all.

I didn't read The Haunting of Hill House until sometime early in the 1990's.