--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: REALITY, n. The dream of a mad…" description: "\"REALITY, n. The dream of a mad philosopher. That which would remain in the cupel if one should assay a phantom. The nucleus of a vacuum.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/ambrose-bierce-140_dream_reality-n-the-dream-of-a-mad-philosopher_3029498.jpg" --- # REALITY, n. The dream of a mad philosopher. That which… ![“REALITY, n. The dream of a mad philosopher. That which would remain in the cupel if one should assay a phantom. The nucleus of a vacuum.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/ambrose-bierce-140_dream_reality-n-the-dream-of-a-mad-philosopher_3029498.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/ambrose-bierce-140_dream_reality-n-the-dream-of-a-mad-philosopher_3029498.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/ambrose-bierce-140_dream_reality-n-the-dream-of-a-mad-philosopher_3029498.jpg) > “REALITY, n. The dream of a mad philosopher. That which would remain in the cupel if one should assay a phantom. The nucleus of a vacuum.” [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. Reality is portrayed as an elusive, almost phantom-like construct, a dream of a mad philosopher. **In simple terms:** Reality is a fleeting, imagined concept. Key Takeaway Question the nature of reality. Themes philosophy perception illusion Mood thoughtful skeptical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - creative writing - critical thinking - philosophical debate Key Concepts epistemology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What defines reality for you? - Can reality be fully known? A Different Perspective Reality may be subjective and hard to define. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dream Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream-mad-4942453/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad/) [Mad Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad-philosopher-418920/) [Nucleus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nucleus/) [Phantoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phantoms/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-dream-521383/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Vacuums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vacuums/) ## Related quotes > [Every man who is not a monster, a mathematician, or a mad philosopher, is the slave of some woman or other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/every-man-who-is-not-a-monster-a-mathematician-or-a-mad-philosopher/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [When the nights change so do my nightmares too I dream reality is my dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-cudi/when-the-nights-change-so-do-my-nightmares-too-i-dream-reality-is-my/) [Kid Cudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-cudi/) > [They tease me now, telling me it was only a dream. But does it matter whether it was a dream or reality, if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/they-tease-me-now-telling-me-it-was-only-a-dream-but-does-it-matter/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“I took a course in art last winter. I learnt the difference between a fine oil painting, and a mechanical thing, like a photograph.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veta-louise-simmons/i-took-a-course-in-art-last-winter-i-learnt-the-difference-between-a/) [Veta Louise Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veta-louise-simmons/) > [The only way we know it's true is that we both dreamed it. That's what reality is. It's a dream everyone has together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/the-only-way-we-know-it-s-true-is-that-we-both-dreamed-it-that-s-what/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [In order to make anything a reality, you have to dream about it first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/in-order-to-make-anything-a-reality-you-have-to-dream-about-it-first/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You don’t question Providence. If you can’t have the reality, a dream is just as good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-don-t-question-providence-if-you-can-t-have-the-reality-a-dream/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-afraid-of-the-space-between-your-dreams-and-reality-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I wished the dream were real, and this reality a dream. But that wasn't the case. And that was why, whenever I woke up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyoichi-katayama/i-wished-the-dream-were-real-and-this-reality-a-dream-but-that-wasn-t/) [kyoichi katayama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyoichi-katayama/) > [Keep wondering whether your waking reality is a dream and you will wake up to the real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/keep-wondering-whether-your-waking-reality-is-a-dream-and-you-will/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Life is real, reality is not a dream. Those who chose to sleep...I wake em up, Cause you're sleepin with your mouth open hummin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-sun/life-is-real-reality-is-not-a-dream-those-who-chose-to-sleep-i-wake/) [King Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-sun/) > [“Have you ever had a dream that you were certain was real, only to wake up and realize that everyone and everything in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/have-you-ever-had-a-dream-that-you-were-certain-was-real-only-to-wake/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [Dreams are a reservoir of knowledge and experience yet they are often overlooked as a vehicle for exploring reality. In the dream state our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-laberge/dreams-are-a-reservoir-of-knowledge-and-experience-yet-they-are-often/) [Stephen LaBerge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-laberge/) > [“REALITY A DREAM UNBORN,SEEKIN MORE GIFTS TO PERFORM”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljk-1/reality-a-dream-unborn-seekin-more-gifts-to-perform/) [Ljk 1](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljk-1/) > [Perfection cant be achieved in reality hence why we dream about it but, a girl with a great personality to match her beauty is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehde-h-choudhury/perfection-cant-be-achieved-in-reality-hence-why-we-dream-about-it/) [Mehde H Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehde-h-choudhury/) ## 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 Dream quotes > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "REALITY, n. The dream of a mad philosopher. That which would remain in the cupel if one should assay a phantom. 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