The devil is not always at one door.
The devil is not always at one door.
Meaning in plain English
Trouble is pictured as moving between different doors rather than remaining in one place. The saying can express hope that a difficulty will pass, but it should not promise relief on a schedule or encourage satisfaction when someone else suffers.
Example
A group facing repeated room cancellations keeps looking for a reliable venue and accepts a temporary offer from a neighbour rather than assuming the disruption must continue forever.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The devil supplies the image of an unwelcome presence at a doorway. Saying that this presence is not always at one door suggests that the current household’s difficulties need not be its permanent condition. Figuratively, it can offer perspective during a changing situation without explaining why the trouble began. A useful reading leaves room for action and help alongside hope. It should not make another person’s misfortune the price of relief, or imply that someone must wait quietly until events move elsewhere. Nor does the image establish a supernatural cause. Its value is the possibility of change, with the practical needs of the affected people still taken seriously.
When to use it
Use it to express hope that a difficult period may change, alongside practical support.
Keep in mind
No timetable or supernatural cause is established; do not take pleasure in another person’s trouble.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-04. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 418 · Devil
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗