Anachronism Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“A subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship . . . . [H]is master works for the means wherewith to purchase the idle wag of the Solomonic tail, seasoned with a look of tolerant recognition.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Devil's Dictionary", 1906
A satirical deity captures excess worship, mocking materialism and human folly.
In simple terms: A fake god mocks excess worship.
Question the value of blind devotion.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- religious debate
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “idle wag” symbolize?
- How does satire reveal societal flaws?
Satire may be misunderstood as literal.