Quotesense – Brain

January 3, 2016 — Leave a comment

BRAIN, n. An apparatus with which we think that we think. That which distinguishes the man who is content to be something from the man who wishes to do something. A man of great wealth, or one who has been pitchforked into high station, has commonly such a headful of brain that his neighbors cannot keep their hats on. In our civilization, and under our republican form of government, brain is so highly honored that it is rewarded by exemption from the cares of office.”

~Ambrose Bierce; The Devils Dictionary

Throughout his life, Ambrose Bierce led a particularly interesting life. From 1842 to 1914, he managed to establish a legacy of searing criticism, fantastic imagination, and honesty. Commonly known for his short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and other journalistic works. Living a life through mostly writing, Bierce is also known for his service in the military. At the outset of the American Civil War, Bierce enlisted in the Union Army’s 9th Indiana Infantry Regiment and was honored for his daring rescue, under fire, of a gravely wounded comrade at the Battle of Rich Mountain. Later, he fought fiercely at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862. His experience was terrifying and became the source of inspiration for several short tales in his memoir, “What I Saw of Shiloh.”

The war took its toll on Bierce, as it would for any. Yet out of the ashes of memory that existed from the war, he found solace in his ability to write well. Editorials, journalism, and satirical writings were all eventually compiled into a lexicon of sorts that became known as the “The Devil’s Dictionary.

The above quote is just one out of hundreds of self-interpreted words and phrases from the mind and mouth of Bierce himself. Many of the definitions are humorous, while others might be difficult to understand or may even offend you. Either way the meanings are all the same; humorous wit for the enlightened and open minded, and backhanded remarks on society for those who laugh because they “think” they understood the joke, but fail to grasp the insult as it wafts in one ear and out the other.

Reading through Bierce’s satirical dictionary is never a disappointment, and deliver bites of truth that I eat up with a spoon. In his definition of the brain, I find his use of the word apparatus in regards to the brain. The normal dictionary defines an apparatus as, a group or combination of instruments, machinery, tools, materials, etc., having a particular function or intended for a specific use. When using this formal definition to accompany Bierce’s commentary on the brain, his definition becomes even more hilarious.

The brain being described as an instrument/tool that has a particular function or specific use and that some actually choose to use it for a purpose or functioned that it is not intentionally designed for explains a lot of the issues we face in this world. What’s the difference between the man that is content sitting at home doing nothing, and the man who wants to change the world? Well, one has a brain and the other does not. Can you figure out which is which? If not, I suggest you read the rest of Bierce’s dictionary and cipher what you can from its text.

Don’t worry, even the most intelligent person, might not be able to decode all of the messages Mr. Bierce laid to paper, in fact some of them are as mysterious as Bierce himself.

In 1913, while traveling to Mexico to learn more about the Mexican Revolution, he disappeared. He crossed the Mexican border in late autumn, and sent one last letter from Chihuahua on December 26. At the end of the letter he said, “As to me, I leave here tomorrow for an unknown destination.” He was never heard from nor seen again.

I highly encourage all to learn more about this enigmatic man and take advantage of one of his many written contributions to this world. You just might become a better human for it, and your brain shall surely be greatly appreciative for the non-derivative fuel you will be giving it. Check out http://www.ambrosebierce.org/main.html

-David Joseph Leingang

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

No Comments

Be the first to start the conversation.

Leave a Reply

Text formatting is available via select HTML. <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.