Emotion Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“LIVER, n. A large red organ thoughtfully provided by nature to be bilious with. The sentiments and emotions which every literary anatomist now knows to haunt the heart were anciently believed to infest the liver; and even Gascoygne, speaking of the emotional side of human nature, calls it "our hepaticall parte." It was at one time considered the seat of life; hence its name- liver, the thing we live with.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Devil's Dictionary, 1906
The liver is humorously portrayed as the organ of emotions and life, reflecting outdated beliefs about its role in feeling and vitality.
In simple terms: The liver is joked about as the seat of feelings and life.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how language can mythologize biology.
Themes
humor
biology
language
history
Mood
playful
ironic
Type
satirical
literary
When to use this quote
- medical education
- creative writing
- psychology
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
metaphor
cultural belief
anatomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do metaphors shape our view of the body?
- What other organs have been mythologized?
A Different Perspective
Modern science disproves the liver as emotional center.
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