Dawn: When men of reason go to bed.
Interpretation
This quote suggests that rationality often diminishes during nighttime, possibly alluding to the irrational thoughts that can arise in the dark.
Ambrose Bierce's quote highlights the contrast between logic and the nighttime, implying that when the day ends, so does a man's reason. It reflects on the idea that darkness can lead to confusion or irrationality, as the rational thoughts we hold during daylight hours may dissipate when faced with the unknown and subconscious fears of night.
In practice
During a discussion about fear of the dark, one could use this quote to emphasize how nighttime can provoke irrational fears.
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.
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.
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.'
Disobey n:To celebrate with an appropriate ceremony the maturity of a command
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.
PARDON, v. To remit a penalty and restore to the life of crime. To add to the lure of crime the temptation of ingratitude.
God knows what you've been doing, everything you've been doing. You may fool me, but you can't fool God!
To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.
Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will.
The purpose that you wish to find in life, like a cure you seek, is not going to fall from the sky. ...I believe purpose is something for which one is responsible; it's not just divinely assigned.
Mom said, "His spirit is there," and that made me really angry. I told her, "Dad didn't have a spirit! He had cells!" "His memory is there." "His memory is here," I said, pointing at my head. "Dad had a spirit," she said, like she was rewinding a bit in our conversation. I told her, "He had cells, and now they're on rooftops, and in the river, and in the lungs of millions of people around New York, who breathe him every time they speak!
Give a man religion without reminding him of his filth, and the result will be arrogance in a three- piece suit.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.