Alarm clock Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“OBLIVION, n. Cold storage for high hopes. A place where ambitious authors meet their works without pride and their betters without envy. A dormitory without an alarm clock.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Devil’s Dictionary", 1911
He defines “oblivion” as a cold storage for unfulfilled ambitions, where authors’ works and their rivals coexist without pride or envy, likening it to a dormitory lacking an alarm.
In simple terms: Oblivion is a place where failed hopes are stored, free of competition.
Key Takeaway
Accept that some ambitions will never be realized.
Themes
failure
humility
ambition
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
aphor
commentary
When to use this quote
- creative projects
- career setbacks
- artistic rivalry
Key Concepts
existentialism
literary criticism
nihilism
Questions to Reflect On
- What ambitions are you willing to let go?
- How do you balance pride with realistic goals?
A Different Perspective
It may romanticize failure, ignoring practical consequences.
