--- title: "4 Apes Quotes By Ambrose Bierce" description: "4 Apes quotes by Ambrose Bierce. Plus more from Ambrose Bierce and more Apes sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/ambrose-bierce-140_ancestor_a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-ref_814580.jpg" --- > [A man is the sum of his ancestors; to reform him you must begin with a dead ape and work downward through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-reform-him-you-must-begin-with-a/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/ambrose-bierce-140_ancestor_a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-ref_814580.jpg) > [A man is the sum of his ancestors; to reform him you must begin with a dead ape and work downward through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-reform-him-you-must-begin-with-a-2/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/ambrose-bierce-140_ancestor_a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-ref_1054203.jpg) > [A popular character in old Italian plays, who imitated with ludicrous incompetence the "buffone", or clown, and was therefore the ape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-popular-character-in-old-italian-plays-who-imitated-with-ludicrous/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5f/ambrose-bierce-140_apes_a-popular-character-in-old-italian-plays_1060588.jpg) > [ZANY, n. A popular character in old Italian plays, who imitated with ludicrous incompetence the \_buffone\_, or clown, and was therefore the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/zany-n-a-popular-character-in-old-italian-plays-who-imitated-with/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/736/ambrose-bierce-140_apes_zany-n-a-popular-character-in-old-italia_2926898.jpg) ## Other authors on Apes - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b009/author-frans-de-waal-35954.jpg) Frans de Waal 11 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/frans-de-waal/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b004/author-andy-serkis-13212.jpg) Andy Serkis 11 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/andy-serkis/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b023/author-thomas-huxley-90412.jpg) Thomas Huxley 9 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/thomas-huxley/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b010/author-friedrich-nietzsche-36363.jpg) Friedrich Nietzsche 9 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/friedrich-nietzsche/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b017/author-matt-reeves-65483.jpg) Matt Reeves 7 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/matt-reeves/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b001/author-abhijit-naskar-99.jpg) Abhijit Naskar 7 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/abhijit-naskar/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b023/author-terry-pratchett-89528.jpg) Terry Pratchett 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/terry-pratchett/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b024/author-william-shakespeare-95899.jpg) William Shakespeare 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/william-shakespeare/) - [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b020/author-robert-e-howard-79683.jpg) Robert E. Howard 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/robert-e-howard/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/ambrose-bierce/#itemlist", "name": "4 Apes Quotes By Ambrose Bierce", "numberOfItems": 4, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man is the sum of his ancestors; to reform him you must begin with a dead ape and work downward through a million graves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-reform-him-you-must-begin-with-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/ambrose-bierce-140_ancestor_a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-ref_814580.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/ambrose-bierce-140_ancestor_a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-ref_814580.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/ambrose-bierce-140_ancestor_a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-ref_814580.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man is the sum of his ancestors; to reform him you must begin with a dead ape and work downward through a…” — Ambrose Bierce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man is the sum of his ancestors; to reform him you must begin with a dead ape and work downward through a million graves. He is like the lower end of a suspended chain; you can sway him slightly to the right or the left, but remove your hand and he falls into line with the other links.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-reform-him-you-must-begin-with-a-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/ambrose-bierce-140_ancestor_a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-ref_1054203.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/ambrose-bierce-140_ancestor_a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-ref_1054203.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f24/ambrose-bierce-140_ancestor_a-man-is-the-sum-of-his-ancestors-to-ref_1054203.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man is the sum of his ancestors; to reform him you must begin with a dead ape and work downward through a…” — Ambrose Bierce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A popular character in old Italian plays, who imitated with ludicrous incompetence the \"buffone\", or clown, and was therefore the ape of an ape; for the clown himself imitated the serious characters of the play.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-popular-character-in-old-italian-plays-who-imitated-with-ludicrous/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5f/ambrose-bierce-140_apes_a-popular-character-in-old-italian-plays_1060588.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5f/ambrose-bierce-140_apes_a-popular-character-in-old-italian-plays_1060588.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5f/ambrose-bierce-140_apes_a-popular-character-in-old-italian-plays_1060588.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A popular character in old Italian plays, who imitated with ludicrous incompetence the \"buffone\", or clown…” — Ambrose Bierce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "ZANY, n. A popular character in old Italian plays, who imitated with ludicrous incompetence the _buffone_, or clown, and was therefore the ape of an ape; for the clown himself imitated the serious characters of the play. The zany was progenitor to the specialist in humor, as we to-day have the unhappiness to know him. In the zany we see an example of creation; in the humorist, of transmission. 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