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Admiration, n. Our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves.
Ambrose Bierce
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Admiration is often a reflection of our own qualities or desires.

This quote suggests that when we admire someone, it is not merely an appreciation of their unique qualities but rather a recognition of how they reflect our own traits, aspirations, or ideals. It highlights the subjective nature of admiration, indicating that we see in others the aspects we value or desire in ourselves.

Themes

AdmirationRecognitionSelf-ReflectionQualitiesSimilarity

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about personal growth, one might say, 'As Ambrose Bierce noted, admiration is often a mirror reflecting our own qualities.'

More from Ambrose Bierce

PALM, n. A species of tree . . . of which the familiar "itching palm" ("Palma hominis") is most widely distributed . . . . This noble vegetable exudes a kind of invisible gum, which may be detected by applying to the bark a piece of gold or silver.
Ambrose BierceRead
Human nature is pretty well balanced; for every lacking virtue there is a rough substitute that will serve at a pinch--as cunning is the wisdom of the unwise, and ferocity the courage of the coward.
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Indigestion: A disease which the patient and his friends frequently mistake for deep religious conviction and concern for the salvation of mankind. As the simple Red Man of the Western Wild put it, with, it must be confessed, a certain force: 'Plenty well, no pray; big belly ache, heap God.'
Ambrose BierceRead
Disobey n:To celebrate with an appropriate ceremony the maturity of a command
Ambrose BierceRead
NOUMENON, n. That which exists, as distinguished from that which merely seems to exist, the latter being a phenomenon. The noumenon is a bit difficult to locate; it can be apprehended only by a process of reasoning - which is a phenomenon.
Ambrose BierceRead
PARDON, v. To remit a penalty and restore to the life of crime. To add to the lure of crime the temptation of ingratitude.
Ambrose BierceRead

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