pact with devil
Soul for power
A pact with the devil is an agreement to exchange one's soul for worldly benefits—wealth, power, knowledge, or talent.
The concept comes from Christian folklore, most famously the Faust legend.
The phrase now describes any bargain where short-term gains come at terrible long-term cost: Taking that job felt like a pact with the devil.
- FaustLegendary deal-with-devil maker
- SatanJudeo-Christian arch-enemy of God
- moral dilemmaChoice testing one's values
- point of no returnThreshold beyond which reversal impossible
- sinViolation of divine law
ritual magic · crossroads · temptation · seven deadly sins · Mephistopheles · hubris · forbidden knowledge · blasphemy · shadow self · grimoires · sigils · covenant · Robert Johnson · hellfire · eternal damnation · duality of man · tragic hero · self-deception
- witchcraftwitch, spell, spellwork, witches, spells
- horrorhorror, terror, fear, dread, haunted
- plot devicesMacGuffin, red herring, plot twist, flashback, foreshadowing
- GoetheFaust, Mephistopheles, Gretchen, Mephisto, Weimar
- Russian Devilsdemons, Satan, demonic possession, evil spirits, tempters
pact with devildivine blessing
Sacred favor from deity
blessing · baptism · state of grace · salvation · holy vows
pact with devilmartyrdom
Suffering for conviction
vow of poverty · charitable giving · moral integrity · incorruptibility · principled stand
pact with devilhonest work
Legitimate, ethical employment
righteous path · clean conscience · integrity · paying one's dues
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