Cause Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“EFFECT, n. The second of two phenomena which always occur together in the same order. The first, called a Cause, is said to generate the other-which is no more sensible than it would be for one who has never seen a dog except in pursuit of a rabbit to declare the rabbit the cause of the dog.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Devil’s Dictionary, 1906
Cause and effect are often misidentified; people mistakenly label the effect as the cause.
In simple terms: We confuse cause with effect.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about causality.
Themes
logic
philosophy
misconception
analysis
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- everyday reasoning
- scientific method
Key Concepts
causation
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What examples show reversed causality?
- How can we improve causal reasoning?
A Different Perspective
Complex systems can defy simple cause‑effect.
