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.
Denunciations of the manipulativeness of advertisers can unfortunately all too easily be turned on their heads into denunciations of the gullibility of consumers. Both are forms of scapegoating, neither accomplishes anything.
It is however a disgrace to pray! Not for all, but for you, and me, and whoever has his a conscience.
And yet to every bad there is a worse.
Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. Itβs basically a license to proudly emote on a somewhat childish level rather than behave like a supposed adult. Being a geek is extremely liberating.
Opinion is like a pendulum and obeys the same law.
There can be no rebirth without a dark night of the soul, a total annihilation of all that you believed in and thought that you were.
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