Inhumanity, n. One of the signal and characteristic qualities of humanity.
Interpretation
Inhumanity is a fundamental aspect of human nature, highlighting the contradictions within humanity itself.
This quote by Ambrose Bierce presents a paradoxical view of humanity, suggesting that inhumanity is not just an absence of humane qualities, but rather a defining characteristic of human existence. It implies that the capacity for cruelty and lack of empathy is an innate part of what it means to be human, challenging the notion that humans are inherently benevolent or compassionate.
In practice
In a discussion about the nature of evil in literature, one might quote Bierce to emphasize the complexity of human behavior.
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.
I have no religious belief myself, but I don't think we should fight about it. In particular, I think that we should not rubbish moderate religious leaders like the Archbishop of Canterbury because I think we all agree that extreme fundamentalism is a threat, and we need all the allies we can muster against it.
Surely the glory of journalism is its transience.
Do not shorten the morning by getting up late; look upon it as the quintessence of life, as to a certain extent sacred.
We cut nature up, organize it into concepts, and ascribe significances as we do, largely because we are parties to an agreement to organize it in this way - an agreement that holds through our speech community and is codified in the patterns of our language.
The angel personifies something new arising from the deep unconscious.
God is not good, or else he could do better.
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