Humor Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“NOSE, n. The extreme outpost of the face. From the circumstance that great conquerors have great noses, Getius, whose writings antedate the age of humor, calls the nose the organ of quell. It has been observed that one's nose is never so happy as when thrust into the affairs of others, from which some physiologists have drawn the inference that the nose is devoid of the sense of smell. There's a man with a Nose, And wherever he goes The people run from him and shout: No cotton have we For our ears if so be He blow that interminous snout! So the lawyers applied For injunction. Denied, Said the Judge: the defendant prefixion, Whate'er it portend, Appears to transcend The bounds of this court's jurisdiction. --Arpad Singiny.”
About This Quote
Source Literature: The Devil's Dictionary, 1906
The quote humorously portrays the nose as a symbol of meddling and social rejection, suggesting that those who intrude become unwelcome.
In simple terms: Nose as a metaphor for nosiness and being shunned.
Key Takeaway
Avoid unnecessary interference.
Themes
humor
social critique
language
satire
Mood
witty
critical
ironic
Type
satirical
observational.
When to use this quote
- political debates
- office gossip
- family gatherings
- public speaking
- online forums
Key Concepts
symbolism
metaphor
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you notice when you become a “nose” in conversations?
- How can you respect boundaries while staying informed?
A Different Perspective
Humor may downplay genuine feelings of exclusion.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
