--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: LIVER, n. A large red organ thoughtfully…" description: "\"LIVER, n. A large red organ thoughtfully provided by nature to be bilious with. The sentiments and emotions which every literary anatomist now knows to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/ambrose-bierce-140_emotion_liver-n-a-large-red-organ-thoughtfully-p_350281.jpg" --- # LIVER, n. A large red organ thoughtfully provided by… ![“LIVER, n. A large red organ thoughtfully provided by nature to be bilious with. The sentiments and emotions which every literary anatomist now knows to haunt the heart were anciently believed to infest the liver; and even Gascoygne, speaking of the emotional side of human nature, calls it "our…” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/ambrose-bierce-140_emotion_liver-n-a-large-red-organ-thoughtfully-p_350281.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/ambrose-bierce-140_emotion_liver-n-a-large-red-organ-thoughtfully-p_350281.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cc/ambrose-bierce-140_emotion_liver-n-a-large-red-organ-thoughtfully-p_350281.jpg) > “LIVER, n. A large red organ thoughtfully provided by nature to be bilious with. The sentiments and emotions which every literary anatomist now knows to haunt the heart were anciently believed to infest the liver; and even Gascoygne, speaking of the emotional side of human nature, calls it "our hepaticall parte." It was at one time considered the seat of life; hence its name- liver, the thing we live with.” [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. The liver is humorously portrayed as the organ of emotions and life, reflecting outdated beliefs about its role in feeling and vitality. **In simple terms:** The liver is joked about as the seat of feelings and life. Key Takeaway Recognize how language can mythologize biology. Themes humor biology language history Mood playful ironic Type satirical literary When to use this quote - medical education - creative writing - psychology - literary analysis Key Concepts metaphor cultural belief anatomy Questions to Reflect On - How do metaphors shape our view of the body? - What other organs have been mythologized? A Different Perspective Modern science disproves the liver as emotional center. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Life Liver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-liver-1095340/) [Liver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liver/) [Liver Large](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liver-large-3234818/) [Liver Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liver-thing-3234817/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [One time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-time/) [Organ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organ/) [Organs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organs/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Seats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seats/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) ## Related quotes > [LIVER, n. A large red organ thoughtfully provided by nature to be bilious with. The liver is heaven's best gift to the goose; without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/liver-n-a-large-red-organ-thoughtfully-provided-by-nature-to-be-2/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“We want ecstasy as a way of life, not a liver-poisoning alcoholiday from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crimethinc/we-want-ecstasy-as-a-way-of-life-not-a-liver-poisoning-alcoholiday/) [Crimethinc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crimethinc/) > [Your liver is your vital detoxification organ, and if it becomes overloaded with toxins from the food, drink, or medications you're consuming, you'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-somers/your-liver-is-your-vital-detoxification-organ-and-if-it-becomes/) [Suzanne Somers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-somers/) > [We are always in awe of what the donors have done in terms of providing of themselves to the recipients. It really is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/we-are-always-in-awe-of-what-the-donors-have-done-in-terms-of/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [It is astounding to me, and achingly sad, that with eighty thousand people on the waiting list for donated hearts and livers and kidneys,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/it-is-astounding-to-me-and-achingly-sad-that-with-eighty-thousand/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [If we had enough cadaver organs to go around we wouldn't do living donor liver transplants because one is we don't want to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/if-we-had-enough-cadaver-organs-to-go-around-we-wouldn-t-do-living/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [We don't have enough solid organs for transplantation; not enough kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs. When you get a liver and you have three people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-emanuel/we-don-t-have-enough-solid-organs-for-transplantation-not-enough/) [Ezekiel Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-emanuel/) > [Removal of an organ is difficult and dangerous. There have been several deaths of healthy donors. I think myself, I would be hesitant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-murray/removal-of-an-organ-is-difficult-and-dangerous-there-have-been/) [Joe Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-murray/) > [For the liver, what's so interesting is that there's no stem cell in the liver. So the normal liver actually can regenerate. It's one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangeeta-n-bhatia/for-the-liver-what-s-so-interesting-is-that-there-s-no-stem-cell-in/) [Sangeeta N. Bhatia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangeeta-n-bhatia/) > [The brain is not, like the liver, heart and other internal organs, capable from the moment of birth of all the functions which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-v-pierce/the-brain-is-not-like-the-liver-heart-and-other-internal-organs/) [Ray V. Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-v-pierce/) > [Well, I know how the system works. I know that there's something called the MELD system, which is nationwide. There are zones as far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summerall/well-i-know-how-the-system-works-i-know-that-there-s-something-called/) [Pat Summerall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summerall/) > [When we think about living donor transplant, what we're banking on is the ability of the liver to regenerate itself. Now, it's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/when-we-think-about-living-donor-transplant-what-we-re-banking-on-is/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [People who are living donors who give kidneys. You can't give a heart and you can't give a liver, but you can sure give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hagman/people-who-are-living-donors-who-give-kidneys-you-can-t-give-a-heart/) [Larry Hagman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hagman/) > [There is a risk of death associated with donating a piece of liver. It's about one in 500 for the risk of death. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/there-is-a-risk-of-death-associated-with-donating-a-piece-of-liver-it/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [Pretty much everybody knows there are not enough organs for all of those patients who need to get transplants, and what happens is, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/pretty-much-everybody-knows-there-are-not-enough-organs-for-all-of/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) ## 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 Emotion quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Of course I like you. It's because I like you I don't wanna be with you. It's a complicated emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin/of-course-i-like-you-it-s-because-i-like-you-i-don-t-wanna-be-with/) [Marlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlin/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. 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