Famous Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“CARMELITE, n. A mendicant friar of the order of Mount Carmel. As Death was a-rising out one day, Across Mount Camel he took his way, Where he met a mendicant monk, Some three or four quarters drunk, With a holy leer and a pious grin, Ragged and fat and as saucy as sin, Who held out his hands and cried: Give, give in Charity's name, I pray. Give in the name of the Church. O give, Give that her holy sons may live! And Death replied, Smiling long and wide: I'll give, holy father, I'll give thee --a ride. With a rattle and bang Of his bones, he sprang From his famous Pale Horse, with his spear; By the neck and the foot Seized the fellow, and put Him astride with his face to the rear. The Monarch laughed loud with a sound that fell Like clods on the coffin's sounding shell: Ho, ho! A beggar on horseback, they say, Will ride to the devil! --and _thump_ Fell the flat of his dart on the rump Of the charger, which galloped away. Faster and faster and faster it flew, Till the rock”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Death of the Monk, 1892
A satirical piece depicts Death bargaining with a greedy monk, highlighting hypocrisy and greed in religious charity.
In simple terms: Greedy charity leads to absurd outcomes.
Key Takeaway
Beware of selfish motives in giving.
Themes
religion
greed
death
satire
Mood
cynical
darkly humorous
Type
satirical
critical
When to use this quote
- church fundraising
- political rhetoric
- personal ethics
Key Concepts
moral hypocrisy
parody
human folly
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives selfish charity?
- How does satire reveal truth?
A Different Perspective
The humor may downplay serious moral concerns.
