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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
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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.

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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.
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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.'
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Disobey n:To celebrate with an appropriate ceremony the maturity of a command
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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.
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