--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A subsidiary Deity designed to catch the…" description: "\"A subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship . . . . [H]is master works for the means wherewith to purchase the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/ambrose-bierce-140_anachronism_a-subsidiary-deity-designed-to-catch-the_2124334.jpg" --- # A subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and… ![“A subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship . . . . [H]is master works for the means wherewith to purchase the idle wag of the Solomonic tail, seasoned with a look of tolerant recognition.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/ambrose-bierce-140_anachronism_a-subsidiary-deity-designed-to-catch-the_2124334.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/ambrose-bierce-140_anachronism_a-subsidiary-deity-designed-to-catch-the_2124334.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/ambrose-bierce-140_anachronism_a-subsidiary-deity-designed-to-catch-the_2124334.jpg) > “A subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship . . . . \[H\]is master works for the means wherewith to purchase the idle wag of the Solomonic tail, seasoned with a look of tolerant recognition.” [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. A satirical deity captures excess worship, mocking materialism and human folly. **In simple terms:** A fake god mocks excess worship. Key Takeaway Question the value of blind devotion. Themes satire religion materialism Mood critical wry Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - political discourse - religious debate - literary analysis Key Concepts irony social critique Questions to Reflect On - What does “idle wag” symbolize? - How does satire reveal societal flaws? A Different Perspective Satire may be misunderstood as literal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anachronism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anachronism/) [Deities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deities/) [Deity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deity/) [Deity Designed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deity-designed-1764721/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idle/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Overflow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overflow/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Solomonic Tail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solomonic-tail-4350209/) [Subsidiary Deity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subsidiary-deity-1764720/) [Surplus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surplus/) [Tail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tail/) [Tails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tails/) [Wags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wags/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [Dog - a kind of additional or subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/dog-a-kind-of-additional-or-subsidiary-deity-designed-to-catch-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DOG, n. A kind of additional or subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship. This Divine Being in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/dog-n-a-kind-of-additional-or-subsidiary-deity-designed-to-catch-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [ART, n. This word has no definition. Its origin is related by the ingenious Father Gassalasca Jape as "One day a wag - what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/art-n-this-word-has-no-definition-its-origin-is-related-by-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Thanks to the Polgars the adjective 'men's' before events and the 'affirmative action' women's titles such as Woman Grandmaster have become anachronisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/thanks-to-the-polgars-the-adjective-men-s-before-events-and-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Some of my favorite photos from the old days are of people who maybe didn't know how to smile. Maybe smiling in photos wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/some-of-my-favorite-photos-from-the-old-days-are-of-people-who-maybe/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [A linguist deaf to the poetic functions of language and a literary scholar indifferent to linguistics are equally flagrant anachronisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/a-linguist-deaf-to-the-poetic-functions-of-language-and-a-literary/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [“The biggest anachronism, usually, in a historical movie is, again, the author doesn’t want to be thought to in any way share the social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-woods-jr/the-biggest-anachronism-usually-in-a-historical-movie-is-again-the/) [Thomas E. Woods Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-woods-jr/) > [If I was a poet, I had become one because poetry, more intensely than any other practice, could not evade its anachronism and marginality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/if-i-was-a-poet-i-had-become-one-because-poetry-more-intensely-than/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Dignity is an anachronism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/dignity-is-an-anachronism/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Reality is partial to symmetry and slight anachronisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/reality-is-partial-to-symmetry-and-slight-anachronisms/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“THE ALLIGATOR IS AN ANACHRONISM THAT CAN EAT YOU!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-russell/the-alligator-is-an-anachronism-that-can-eat-you/) [Karen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-russell/) > [The energy that actually shapes the world springs from emotions - racial pride, leader-worship, religious belief, love of war - which liberal intellectuals mechanically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-energy-that-actually-shapes-the-world-springs-from-emotions/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I call myself a gorgeous anachronism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinkx-monsoon/i-call-myself-a-gorgeous-anachronism/) [Jinkx Monsoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinkx-monsoon/) > [The greatest temptation for the like of us is: to renounce violence, to repent, to make peace with oneself. Most revolutionaries fell before this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-greatest-temptation-for-the-like-of-us-is-to-renounce-violence-to/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [When you stroll through Munich it can happen that you suddenly stand in front of an old house, an idyllically-dreaming church that smiles like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-goebbels/when-you-stroll-through-munich-it-can-happen-that-you-suddenly-stand/) [Joseph Goebbels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-goebbels/) ## 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 Anachronism quotes > [When you stroll through Munich it can happen that you suddenly stand in front of an old house, an idyllically-dreaming church that smiles like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-goebbels/when-you-stroll-through-munich-it-can-happen-that-you-suddenly-stand/) [Joseph Goebbels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-goebbels/) > [The greatest temptation for the like of us is: to renounce violence, to repent, to make peace with oneself. Most revolutionaries fell before this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-greatest-temptation-for-the-like-of-us-is-to-renounce-violence-to/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I call myself a gorgeous anachronism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinkx-monsoon/i-call-myself-a-gorgeous-anachronism/) [Jinkx Monsoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinkx-monsoon/) > [The energy that actually shapes the world springs from emotions - racial pride, leader-worship, religious belief, love of war - which liberal intellectuals mechanically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-energy-that-actually-shapes-the-world-springs-from-emotions/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“THE ALLIGATOR IS AN ANACHRONISM THAT CAN EAT YOU!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-russell/the-alligator-is-an-anachronism-that-can-eat-you/) [Karen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-russell/) > [Reality is partial to symmetry and slight anachronisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/reality-is-partial-to-symmetry-and-slight-anachronisms/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Dignity is an anachronism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/dignity-is-an-anachronism/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [If I was a poet, I had become one because poetry, more intensely than any other practice, could not evade its anachronism and marginality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/if-i-was-a-poet-i-had-become-one-because-poetry-more-intensely-than/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [“The biggest anachronism, usually, in a historical movie is, again, the author doesn’t want to be thought to in any way share the social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-woods-jr/the-biggest-anachronism-usually-in-a-historical-movie-is-again-the/) [Thomas E. Woods Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-woods-jr/) > [A linguist deaf to the poetic functions of language and a literary scholar indifferent to linguistics are equally flagrant anachronisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-jakobson/a-linguist-deaf-to-the-poetic-functions-of-language-and-a-literary/) [Roman Jakobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-jakobson/) > [Some of my favorite photos from the old days are of people who maybe didn't know how to smile. Maybe smiling in photos wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/some-of-my-favorite-photos-from-the-old-days-are-of-people-who-maybe/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [Thanks to the Polgars the adjective 'men's' before events and the 'affirmative action' women's titles such as Woman Grandmaster have become anachronisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/thanks-to-the-polgars-the-adjective-men-s-before-events-and-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [I wouldnt mind seeing opera die. Ever since I was a boy, I regarded opera as a ponderous anachronism, almost the equivalent of smoking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/i-wouldnt-mind-seeing-opera-die-ever-since-i-was-a-boy-i-regarded/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [One already feels like an anachronism, writing novels in the age of what-ever-this-is-the-age-of, but touring to promote them feels doubly anachronistic. The marketplace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/one-already-feels-like-an-anachronism-writing-novels-in-the-age-of/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [Independent self-reliant people would be a counterproductive anachronism in the collective society of the future where people will be defined by their associations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/independent-self-reliant-people-would-be-a-counterproductive/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) [Browse all 51 Anachronism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anachronism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship . . . . 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