Cain Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“PRE-ADAMITE, n. One of an experimental and apparently unsatisfactory race of antedated Creation. . . . Little its known of them beyond the fact that they supplied Cain with a wife and theologians with a controversy.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Devil’s Dictionary, 1906, United States
A fictional, unsatisfactory prehistoric race is humorously presented as the source of Cain’s wife, highlighting absurdity in mythic explanations.
In simple terms: A made‑up ancient race explains Cain’s wife.
Key Takeaway
Question absurd origins with skepticism.
Themes
mythology
humor
history
Mood
wry
ironic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic lectures
- creative writing
- debates on origins
Key Concepts
satire
fiction
anthropology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this satire reveal about our need for explanations?
- How do we distinguish myth from fact?
A Different Perspective
The joke may obscure genuine historical inquiry.
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