--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A short story padded. A species of…" description: "\"A short story padded. A species of composition bearing the same relation to literature that the panorama bears to art. As it is too long to be read at ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/ambrose-bierce-140_actuality_a-short-story-padded-a-species-of-compos_2579700.jpg" --- # A short story padded. A species of composition bearing the… ![“A short story padded. A species of composition bearing the same relation to literature that the panorama bears to art. As it is too long to be read at a sitting the impressions made by its successive parts are successively effaced, as in the pa” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/ambrose-bierce-140_actuality_a-short-story-padded-a-species-of-compos_2579700.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/ambrose-bierce-140_actuality_a-short-story-padded-a-species-of-compos_2579700.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1af/ambrose-bierce-140_actuality_a-short-story-padded-a-species-of-compos_2579700.jpg) > “A short story padded. A species of composition bearing the same relation to literature that the panorama bears to art. As it is too long to be read at a sitting the impressions made by its successive parts are successively effaced, as in the pa” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He likens a short story to a panorama, implying that its fragmented, lengthy nature creates fleeting impressions rather than a cohesive whole. **In simple terms:** Short stories are fragmented panoramas. Key Takeaway Accept fleeting impressions in reading. Themes structure perception literature Mood analytical thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - reading - writing - teaching - analysis Key Concepts narrative theory visual art memory Questions to Reflect On - How does structure affect meaning? - What makes a story feel cohesive? A Different Perspective Fragmentation may hinder narrative depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actuality/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Composition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composition/) [Impression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impression/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Literature Panorama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature-panorama-1766838/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Padded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/padded-422113/) [Padded Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/padded-species-1766837/) [Panorama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/panorama/) [Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation/) [Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short/) [Short story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-story/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story Padded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-padded-1766836/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) ## Related quotes > [NOVEL, n. A short story padded...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/novel-n-a-short-story-padded/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“I'm quite certain that if I lost my sense of humor, it would most definitely need to be replaced by a padded cell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comic-strip-mama/i-m-quite-certain-that-if-i-lost-my-sense-of-humor-it-would-most/) [Comic Strip Mama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comic-strip-mama/) > [“There is but an inch of difference between the cushioned chamber and the padded cell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/there-is-but-an-inch-of-difference-between-the-cushioned-chamber-and/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [You're as fake as that padded bra you're wearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/you-re-as-fake-as-that-padded-bra-you-re-wearing/) [Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/) > [I go after the back of the basket pretty fiercely. It's padded so I know it's safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lopez/i-go-after-the-back-of-the-basket-pretty-fiercely-it-s-padded-so-i/) [Robin Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lopez/) > [You lil Fraggle Rock, beat you wit a padded lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/you-lil-fraggle-rock-beat-you-wit-a-padded-lock/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [I can remember when safe sex meant a padded headboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-monkhouse/i-can-remember-when-safe-sex-meant-a-padded-headboard/) [Bob Monkhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-monkhouse/) > [There is but an inch of difference between a cushioned chamber and a padded cell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/there-is-but-an-inch-of-difference-between-a-cushioned-chamber-and-a/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“WHAT FOR IS THIS BOX PADDED? IS IT TO BE SAT ON? CAN IT BE THAT IT IS CAT-FLAVOURED?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/what-for-is-this-box-padded-is-it-to-be-sat-on-can-it-be-that-it-is/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Why would I care whether or not the seats were padded?' And then I look up, biting my lip, and I watch as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-sparrow/why-would-i-care-whether-or-not-the-seats-were-padded-and-then-i-look/) [Rebecca Sparrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-sparrow/) > [Speciation does not necessarily promote evolutionary change; rather, speciation 'gathers in' and guards evolutionary change by locking and stabilization for sufficient geological time within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/speciation-does-not-necessarily-promote-evolutionary-change-rather/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [To the person who desires nothing and does not get entangled in desires, the manifold changes of nature are one panorama of beauty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/to-the-person-who-desires-nothing-and-does-not-get-entangled-in/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As the skies appear to a man, so is his mind. Some see only clouds there; some, prodigies and portents; some rarely look up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-the-skies-appear-to-a-man-so-is-his-mind-some-see-only-clouds/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It is the first vision that counts. The artist has only to remain true to his dream and it will possess his work in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pinkham-ryder/it-is-the-first-vision-that-counts-the-artist-has-only-to-remain-true/) [Albert Pinkham Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pinkham-ryder/) > [But whatever you do, take neither yourselves nor your fellow-creatures too seriously. There is tragedy enough in our daily routine, but there is room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/but-whatever-you-do-take-neither-yourselves-nor-your-fellow-creatures/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Actuality quotes > [When indeed shall we learn that we are all related one to the other, that we are all members of one body? Until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/when-indeed-shall-we-learn-that-we-are-all-related-one-to-the-other/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [If the theme is simple, you can include a hundred details that create the illusion of actuality better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satyajit-ray/if-the-theme-is-simple-you-can-include-a-hundred-details-that-create/) [Satyajit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satyajit-ray/) > [The superhero shows and movies are always having the spotlight on the superheroes themselves. It's never about the people who are living in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-hudgens/the-superhero-shows-and-movies-are-always-having-the-spotlight-on-the/) [Vanessa Hudgens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-hudgens/) > [Man is the "ethical animal" ethical in potentiality even if, unfortunately, not in actuality. His capacity for ethical judgment like freedom, reason and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/man-is-the-ethical-animal-ethical-in-potentiality-even-if/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [It may look as though two chess players are sitting at the board peacefully calculating possibilities, but in actuality they are seething with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shankarananda/it-may-look-as-though-two-chess-players-are-sitting-at-the-board/) [Shankarananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shankarananda/) > [The question of historicity and actuality with regard to gods and unicorns is a relatively trifling matter which may be left to antiquarians and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odell-shepard/the-question-of-historicity-and-actuality-with-regard-to-gods-and/) [Odell Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odell-shepard/) > [Each mental act opens up a new dimension of actuality. In a manner of speaking, your slightest thought gives birth to worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/each-mental-act-opens-up-a-new-dimension-of-actuality-in-a-manner-of/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [Behavior must also be adequately assessed under appropriate circumstances. Ill-defined global measures of perceived self-efficacy or defective assessments of performance will yield discordances. Disparities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bandura/behavior-must-also-be-adequately-assessed-under-appropriate/) [Albert Bandura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bandura/) > [I don't want to manipulate actuality; I want to record it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/i-don-t-want-to-manipulate-actuality-i-want-to-record-it/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [During the reign of Rameses III (the Twentieth Dynasty) Egypt saw a flowering of its civilization and the harp became the royal instrument of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-heline/during-the-reign-of-rameses-iii-the-twentieth-dynasty-egypt-saw-a/) [Corinne Heline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-heline/) > [The problems of philosophy and the systems designed to solve them are formulated in terms which tend to refer, not to the realm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/the-problems-of-philosophy-and-the-systems-designed-to-solve-them-are/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [I am not especially good at remembering the actualities of the world I inhabit, but I have pretty strong associative memories of how it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bradfield/i-am-not-especially-good-at-remembering-the-actualities-of-the-world/) [Scott Bradfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bradfield/) > [If only the sense of actuality can be lulled-and it sleeps for ever in most historians-there is no passion that cannot be gratified in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/if-only-the-sense-of-actuality-can-be-lulled-and-it-sleeps-for-ever/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [I recognise a distinction between dream life and real life, between appearances and actualities. I confess to an over-powering desire to know whether I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/i-recognise-a-distinction-between-dream-life-and-real-life-between/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [If tone is granted to be subjected to control, why not line also, which has equal emotional significance? And if line, why not shapes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mortensen/if-tone-is-granted-to-be-subjected-to-control-why-not-line-also-which/) [William Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mortensen/) [Browse all 142 Actuality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actuality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A short story padded. 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