--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oyster, n. A slimy, gobby shellfish which…" description: "\"“Oyster, n. A slimy, gobby shellfish which civilization gives men the hardihood to eat without removing its entrails!”\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/ambrose-bierce-140_oyster_oyster-n-a-slimy-gobby-shellfish-which-c_752300.jpg" --- # Oyster, n. A slimy, gobby shellfish which civilization… ![“Oyster, n. A slimy, gobby shellfish which civilization gives men the hardihood to eat without removing its entrails!” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/ambrose-bierce-140_oyster_oyster-n-a-slimy-gobby-shellfish-which-c_752300.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/ambrose-bierce-140_oyster_oyster-n-a-slimy-gobby-shellfish-which-c_752300.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/ambrose-bierce-140_oyster_oyster-n-a-slimy-gobby-shellfish-which-c_752300.jpg) > ““Oyster, n. A slimy, gobby shellfish which civilization gives men the hardihood to eat without removing its entrails!”” [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 definition that highlights the unpleasantness of oysters while mocking how civilization forces people to consume them despite their unappealing nature. **In simple terms:** Oysters are disgusting but society makes us eat them. Key Takeaway Question the absurdities we accept. Themes satire food civilization Mood wry critical Type satirical humorous When to use this quote - dining etiquette - food criticism - social norms - culinary traditions Key Concepts cultural critique humor absurdity Questions to Reflect On - Do we accept unpleasant truths for tradition? - How does satire change perception? A Different Perspective The humor may obscure genuine culinary appreciation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gobby Shellfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gobby-shellfish-1122161/) [Oyster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oyster/) [Oyster Slimy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oyster-slimy-1122159/) [Shellfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shellfish/) [Shellfish Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shellfish-civilization-1122160/) [Slimy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slimy-973790/) ## Related quotes > [OYSTER, n. A slimy, gobby shellfish which civilization gives men the hardihood to eat without removing its entrails! The shells are sometimes given to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/oyster-n-a-slimy-gobby-shellfish-which-civilization-gives-men-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“Charlotte sighed inwardly. She knew her mother was serious when she started referring to shellfish. What did that mean, anyway? What's so great about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/charlotte-sighed-inwardly-she-knew-her-mother-was-serious-when-she/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [The world is your oyster... ...too bad you're allergic to shellfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-neilan/the-world-is-your-oyster-too-bad-you-re-allergic-to-shellfish/) [Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/) > [I simply cannot imagine why anyone would eat something slimy served in an ashtray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-beard/i-simply-cannot-imagine-why-anyone-would-eat-something-slimy-served/) [Henry Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-beard/) > [“A man so slimy he would have found employment as axle grease.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/a-man-so-slimy-he-would-have-found-employment-as-axle-grease/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) > [I hate okra and grated mountain yam for the same reason. They're both slimy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/i-hate-okra-and-grated-mountain-yam-for-the-same-reason-they-re-both/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [Maybe Simon Cowell for his effect on music. I call him Slimy Cowpat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-hucknall/maybe-simon-cowell-for-his-effect-on-music-i-call-him-slimy-cowpat/) [Mick Hucknall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-hucknall/) > [Los Angeles, I don't like that town. Too decadent, and it's slimy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layne-staley/los-angeles-i-don-t-like-that-town-too-decadent-and-it-s-slimy/) [Layne Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layne-staley/) > [“astonishingly slimy and dangerous”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baldacci/astonishingly-slimy-and-dangerous/) [David Baldacci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baldacci/) > [“If guilt was an animal then it would be an octopus. All slimy and wriggly with hundreds of arms that wrap around your insides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-pitcher/if-guilt-was-an-animal-then-it-would-be-an-octopus-all-slimy-and/) [Annabel Pitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-pitcher/) > [“I know just how slimy people can be, and how people like that are during the daytime. They don’t get slimy at night because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/i-know-just-how-slimy-people-can-be-and-how-people-like-that-are/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [CRAYFISH, n. A small crustacean very much resembling the lobster, but less indigestible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/crayfish-n-a-small-crustacean-very-much-resembling-the-lobster-but/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [She grew more and more silent about what really mattered. She curled inside herself like one of those black chimney brushes, the little shellfish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-frame/she-grew-more-and-more-silent-about-what-really-mattered-she-curled/) [Janet Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-frame/) > [I'm not a believer, I call myself an atheist. It was man who invented God. I once wrote that there are 15 things I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/i-m-not-a-believer-i-call-myself-an-atheist-it-was-man-who-invented/) [Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/) > [I've had no shellfish and no pork for quite some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amar-e-stoudemire/i-ve-had-no-shellfish-and-no-pork-for-quite-some-time/) [Amar'e Stoudemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amar-e-stoudemire/) ## 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 Oyster quotes > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/get-action-seize-the-moment-man-was-never-intended-to-become-an-oyster/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I went up to the camp and Paul had me eat my first oyster I had never had an oyster in my life. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-went-up-to-the-camp-and-paul-had-me-eat-my-first-oyster-i-had-never/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [“Even a grain of sand united with an oyster can make a pearl.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/even-a-grain-of-sand-united-with-an-oyster-can-make-a-pearl/) [Truth Devour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truth-devour/) > [From a grain of sand in the Pearl comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/from-a-grain-of-sand-in-the-pearl-comes/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The world was my oyster but I used the wrong fork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-world-was-my-oyster-but-i-used-the-wrong-fork/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“But the life of a man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/but-the-life-of-a-man-is-of-no-greater-importance-to-the-universe/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [OYSTER, n. A slimy, gobby shellfish which civilization gives men the hardihood to eat without removing its entrails! The shells are sometimes given to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/oyster-n-a-slimy-gobby-shellfish-which-civilization-gives-men-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A cocktail and an oyster is an awfully good thing after a park, especially one close to water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/a-cocktail-and-an-oyster-is-an-awfully-good-thing-after-a-park/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [An oyster, that marvel of delicacy, that concentration of sapid excellence, that mouthful bwefore all other mouthfuls, who first had faith to believe it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/an-oyster-that-marvel-of-delicacy-that-concentration-of-sapid/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I blurbed a nice book, not at all like my book 'The Big Oyster,' called 'The Essential Oyster.' I blurbed a pretty good book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kurlansky/i-blurbed-a-nice-book-not-at-all-like-my-book-the-big-oyster-called/) [Mark Kurlansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kurlansky/) > [“I think about pearls. Pearls are congealed oyster spit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-think-about-pearls-pearls-are-congealed-oyster-spit/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [ “A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced by an injured life. It is the tear \[that results\] from the injury of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-hoeller/a-pearl-is-a-beautiful-thing-that-is-produced-by-an-injured-life-it/) [Stephan Hoeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-hoeller/) > [The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this. Irritations set into his shell. He does not like them. But when he cannot get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/the-most-extraordinary-thing-about-the-oyster-is-this-irritations-set/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [I'm a firm believer that the world should be your oyster when you're cooking. People should open themselves to other cuisines - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/i-m-a-firm-believer-that-the-world-should-be-your-oyster-when-you-re/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) [Browse all 161 Oyster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oyster/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Oyster, n. 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