Animal Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“Dog - a kind of additional or subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Devil’s Dictionary, 1906
A deity is portrayed as a catch‑all for excess worship, implying that divine concepts become overloaded.
In simple terms: Deities serve as overflow for human worship.
Key Takeaway
Beware of over‑inflating spiritual ideas.
Themes
religion
satire
human nature
Mood
ironic
critical
Type
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- church rituals
- political propaganda
- consumer culture
Key Concepts
theology
cultural critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does excess worship affect belief?
- What limits should be set on divine concepts?
A Different Perspective
Not all worship is surplus; some is essential.
![“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.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/61a/ambrose-bierce-140_anachronism_a-subsidiary-deity-designed-to-catch-the_2124334.jpg)
![“Worship without ‘Gnan’ [True Knowledge] will give material pleasures in the world and worship accompanied by ‘Gnan’ [True Knowledge] is known as ‘Gnan’ [True Knowledge] which gives the result of moksha [ultimate liberation].” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a92/dada-bhagwan-31_freedom_worship-without-gnan-true-knowledge-will_913624.jpg)
