--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bacchus, n.: A convenient deity invented…" description: "\"Bacchus, n.: A convenient deity invented by the ancients as an excuse for getting drunk.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/ambrose-bierce-140_ancient_bacchus-n-a-convenient-deity-invented-by_1319252.jpg" --- # Bacchus, n.: A convenient deity invented by the ancients… ![“Bacchus, n.: A convenient deity invented by the ancients as an excuse for getting drunk.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/ambrose-bierce-140_ancient_bacchus-n-a-convenient-deity-invented-by_1319252.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/ambrose-bierce-140_ancient_bacchus-n-a-convenient-deity-invented-by_1319252.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/ambrose-bierce-140_ancient_bacchus-n-a-convenient-deity-invented-by_1319252.jpg) > “Bacchus, n.: A convenient deity invented by the ancients as an excuse for getting drunk.” [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. Bacchus is portrayed as a convenient excuse for drunkenness. **In simple terms:** Bacchus serves as a drunken excuse. Key Takeaway Recognize rationalizations behind indulgence. Themes satire religion human behavior Mood wry humorous Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - party culture - holiday drinking - personal coping - social rituals Key Concepts mythology alcohol social excuse Questions to Reflect On - Why do societies create deities for vices? - How does satire reveal cultural attitudes? A Different Perspective Such humor can trivialize serious issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Bacchus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bacchus/) [Drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunk/) [Getting drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-drunk/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [For when we quaff the gen'rous bowl, Then sleep the sorrows of our soul. Let us drink the juice divine, The gift of Bacchus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anacreon/for-when-we-quaff-the-gen-rous-bowl-then-sleep-the-sorrows-of-our/) [Anacreon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anacreon/) > [Come boy, and pour for me a cup Of old Falernian. Fill it up With wine, strong, sparkling, bright, and clear; Our host decrees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/come-boy-and-pour-for-me-a-cup-of-old-falernian-fill-it-up-with-wine/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“And when we say also that the Word, who is the first-birth of God, was produced without sexual union, and that He, Jesus Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-martyr/and-when-we-say-also-that-the-word-who-is-the-first-birth-of-god-was/) [Justin Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-martyr/) > [Eat and carouse with Bacchus, or munch dry bread with Jesus, but don't sit down without one of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/eat-and-carouse-with-bacchus-or-munch-dry-bread-with-jesus-but-don-t/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [“Did someone just call me the wine dude ?” he asked in a lazy drawl. “It’s Bacchus, please. Or Mr. Bacchus. Or Lord Bacchus.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/did-someone-just-call-me-the-wine-dude-he-asked-in-a-lazy-drawl-it-s/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [(Those women whom the distaff no longer claims nor spun cloth) driven made, mad, mad by Bacchus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilda-doolittle/those-women-whom-the-distaff-no-longer-claims-nor-spun-cloth-driven/) [Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilda-doolittle/) > [Bacchus' blessings are a treasure, Drinking is the soldier's pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/bacchus-blessings-are-a-treasure-drinking-is-the-soldier-s-pleasure/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Rich the treasure, Sweet the pleasure,- Sweet is pleasure after pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/rich-the-treasure-sweet-the-pleasure-sweet-is-pleasure-after-pain/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Bacchus has drowned more men than Neptune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-garibaldi/bacchus-has-drowned-more-men-than-neptune/) [Giuseppe Garibaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-garibaldi/) > [If anyone decided to call the sea Neptune, and corn Ceres, and to misapply the name of Bacchus rather than to give liquor its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/if-anyone-decided-to-call-the-sea-neptune-and-corn-ceres-and-to/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Wine give strenght to weary men. and And wine can of their wits the wise beguile. Make the sage frolic, and the serious smile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/wine-give-strenght-to-weary-men-and-and-wine-can-of-their-wits-the/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“Lord Bacchus, do you remember me? I helped you with that missing leopard in Sonoma.” Bacchus scratched his stubbly chin. “Ah…yes. John Green.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lord-bacchus-do-you-remember-me-i-helped-you-with-that-missing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The pinecone is a fearsome tool of destruction! -Bacchus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/the-pinecone-is-a-fearsome-tool-of-destruction-bacchus/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Bacchus ever fair and young, Drinking joys did first ordain. Bachus's blessings are a treasure, Drinking is the soldier's pleasure, Rich the treasure, Sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/bacchus-ever-fair-and-young-drinking-joys-did-first-ordain-bachus-s/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Answer my question, Bacchus. I’m not one of your dickless Greeks to be kept waiting for an answer. (Camulus) You better take a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/answer-my-question-bacchus-i-m-not-one-of-your-dickless-greeks-to-be/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) ## 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 Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. 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