--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: JOSS-STICKS- Small sticks burned by the…" description: "\"JOSS-STICKS- Small sticks burned by the Chinese in their pagan tomfoolery, in imitation of certain sacred rites of our holy religion.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/ambrose-bierce-140_burned_joss-sticks-small-sticks-burned-by-the-c_2846794.jpg" --- # JOSS-STICKS- Small sticks burned by the Chinese in their… ![“JOSS-STICKS- Small sticks burned by the Chinese in their pagan tomfoolery, in imitation of certain sacred rites of our holy religion.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/ambrose-bierce-140_burned_joss-sticks-small-sticks-burned-by-the-c_2846794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/ambrose-bierce-140_burned_joss-sticks-small-sticks-burned-by-the-c_2846794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e32/ambrose-bierce-140_burned_joss-sticks-small-sticks-burned-by-the-c_2846794.jpg) > “JOSS-STICKS- Small sticks burned by the Chinese in their pagan tomfoolery, in imitation of certain sacred rites of our holy religion.” [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. Mocks the practice of burning sticks in pagan rituals, likening it to imitation of sacred rites. **In simple terms:** Mocking superficial religious rituals. Key Takeaway Question the authenticity of rituals. Themes religion mockery tradition Mood wry critical Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - cultural critique - historical analysis - theology Key Concepts satire anthropology Questions to Reflect On - Why do people imitate sacred rites? - What value lies in ritual? A Different Perspective Rituals can hold deep meaning despite origins. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burned/) [Burned Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burned-chinese-3765251/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Imitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitation/) [Joss Sticks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joss-sticks-3765250/) [Pagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pagan/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Rite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rite/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Sacred Rites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred-rites-3508413/) [Sticks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks/) [Sticks Burned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks-burned-3765249/) ## Related quotes > [The sacred rites, although not instituted specifically for proving the truth of the dogmas of the Catholic Faith incontrovertibly, are effectively the living voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/the-sacred-rites-although-not-instituted-specifically-for-proving-the/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Funerals are a pagan rite. There's not any doubt about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/funerals-are-a-pagan-rite-there-s-not-any-doubt-about-it/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [RITE, n. A religious or semi-religious ceremony fixed by law, precept or custom, with the essential oil of sincerity carefully squeezed out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rite-n-a-religious-or-semi-religious-ceremony-fixed-by-law-precept-or/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [KISS, n. A word invented by the poets as a rhyme for "bliss." 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I loved it, and he was very focused, very likable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/having-a-phone-call-from-steven-spielberg-was-just-a-fantastic-rite/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [I think it's sort of a rite of passage for a British actor to try and get the American accent and have a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-bloom/i-think-it-s-sort-of-a-rite-of-passage-for-a-british-actor-to-try-and/) [Orlando Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-bloom/) > [O fools, awake! The rites ye sacred hold Are but a cheat contrived by men of old Who lusted after wealth and gained their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ma-arri/o-fools-awake-the-rites-ye-sacred-hold-are-but-a-cheat-contrived-by/) [Al-Maʿarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ma-arri/) > [The holy heaven yearns to wound the earth, and yearning layeth hold on the earth to join in wedlock; the rain, fallen from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-holy-heaven-yearns-to-wound-the-earth-and-yearning-layeth-hold-on/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [If it is written and read with serious attention, a novel, like a myth or any great work of art, can become an initiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/if-it-is-written-and-read-with-serious-attention-a-novel-like-a-myth/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) ## 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. 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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 Burned quotes > [“my stomach turned and burned with the acid of failure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ames/my-stomach-turned-and-burned-with-the-acid-of-failure/) [Heidi Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-ames/) > [These mercenaries, I swear by God, those who are still in Washington, they have sent their troops to be burned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/these-mercenaries-i-swear-by-god-those-who-are-still-in-washington/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Men feared witches and burned women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/men-feared-witches-and-burned-women/) [Louis D. 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Now what I am suggesting is that we've advanced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/years-ago-we-would-have-been-burned-for-this-now-what-i-am-suggesting/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [The life of men and women is so cheap and property is so sacred. There are so many of us for one job it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-schneiderman/the-life-of-men-and-women-is-so-cheap-and-property-is-so-sacred-there/) [Rose Schneiderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-schneiderman/) > [Promoting the use of sustainable and renewable rainforest products can help to stop rainforest devastation. 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