QuoteProject
CERBERUS, n. The watch-dog of Hades, whose duty it was to guard the entrance - against whom or what does not clearly appear; everybody, sooner or later, had to go there, and nobody wanted to carry off the entrance.
Ambrose Bierce
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Cerberus symbolizes the inevitability of death and the fear surrounding it.

The quote reflects on the role of Cerberus, the mythical creature that guards the underworld, as a metaphor for death. It highlights the universal truth that everyone must face mortality eventually, despite the natural aversion to it. The fact that no one wishes to disturb this grave entrance suggests a shared understanding of the solemnity and mystery of death, which remains a part of the human experience.

Themes

DeathCerberusMortalityHadesFear

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about life and loss, one could use this quote to emphasize the inevitability of death.

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.
Ambrose BierceRead
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

Similar quotes

Man must be arched and buttressed from within, else the temple wavers to the dust.
Marcus AureliusRead
Two kinds of people live a life without care: one kind are extremely worthy of praise, the other kind are extremely worthy of criticism. The first are those who care nothing for the pleasures of the world and the second (i.e. those who are deserving of criticism) care nothing for haya or modesty.
Ibn HazmRead
Let us face a pluralistic world in which there are no universal churches, no single remedy for all diseases, no one way to teach or write or sing, no magic diet, no world poets, and no chosen races, but only the wretched and wonderfully diversified human race.
Jacques BarzunRead
We cannot discuss human rights, when we are denying people the right to live.
Ravi ZachariasRead
It's been months since I last wrote. I've lived in a state of mental slumber, leading the life of someone else. I've felt, very often, a vicarious happiness. I haven't existed. I've been someone else. I've lived without thinking.
Fernando PessoaRead
The supreme crime of the church to-day is that everywhere and in all its operations and influences it is on the side of sloth of mind; that it banishes brains, it sanctifies stupidity, it canonizes incompetence.
Upton SinclairRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.

Quote by Ambrose Bierce | QuoteProject