imp of the perverse love

imp of the perverse

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  • metaphor describing a tendency or urge to do the wrong thing under a given set of circumstances, for no other reason than that it is possible to do so. cf. shoulder angel, shoulder devil.

    possibly coined by Poe in his short story (1845) of the same name. Also used by Neal Stephenson in the Baroque Cycle books.

    February 7, 2013

  • Ooh, that sounds like an interesting (professional? honorary?) title...

    February 7, 2013

  • T.S. Eliot was imp of the purr-verse in his work Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.

    February 7, 2013