MEDICINE, n. A stone flung down the Bowery to kill a dog in Broadway.
Interpretation
This quote humorously critiques the ineffectiveness or absurdity of medicine.
Ambrose Bierce's quote reflects a satirical take on medicine, suggesting that it is as futile or misplaced as attempting to throw a stone down a street to solve a problem. It uses humor to critique the medical profession and highlight the sometimes ridiculous nature of treatments and interventions that do not effectively address the underlying issues.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about the limitations of medical treatments in a humorous context.
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.
Players, Sir! I look on them as no better than creatures set upon tables and joint stools to make faces and produce laughter, like dancing dogs.
The way Calvin's brain is wired, you can almost hear the fuses blowing.
I'm not a comedian. I'm Lenny Bruce.
The object of a comedy is not to correct morals or ridicule the vices of society; no, a comedy should depict the discrepancies between life and purpose, should be the fruit of bitter indignation aroused by the degradation of human dignity, should be sarcasm, and not an epigram, convulsive laughter and not an amused grin, should be written with bile and not diluted salt, in a word, it should embrace life in its highest significance.
It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much.
A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
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