Books Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“LORE, n. Learning --particularly that sort which is not derived from a regular course of instruction but comes of the reading of occult books, or by nature. This latter is commonly designated as folk-lore and embraces popularly myths and superstitions. In Baring-Gould's _Curious Myths of the Middle Ages_ the reader will find many of these traced backward, through various people son converging lines, toward a common origin in remote antiquity. Among these are the fables of Teddy the Giant Killer, The Sleeping John Sharp Williams, Little Red Riding Hood and the Sugar Trust, Beauty and the Brisbane, The Seven Aldermen of Ephesus, Rip Van Fairbanks, and so forth. The fable with Goethe so affectingly relates under the title of The Erl- King was known two thousand years ago in Greece as The Demos and the Infant Industry. One of the most general and ancient of these myths is that Arabian tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Rockefellers.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Curious Myths of the Middle Ages by Sabine Baring‑Gould, 1909
Folklore describes knowledge passed outside formal education, often through myths, legends, and superstitions that reveal cultural values and collective imagination.
In simple terms: Traditional knowledge comes from stories, not schools.
Key Takeaway
Explore and question popular myths.
Themes
culture
mythology
knowledge
tradition
Mood
curious
reflective
Type
educational
analytical
When to use this quote
- teaching children
- preserving heritage
- analyzing media
- community storytelling
Key Concepts
collective unconscious
symbolism
oral transmission
Questions to Reflect On
- How do modern media reshape ancient myths?
- What responsibilities do we have when sharing folklore?
A Different Perspective
Folklore can perpetuate harmful stereotypes or misinformation.
