Quote by Ambrose Bierce
ABNORMAL, adj. Not conforming to standards in matters of thought and conduct. To be independent is to be abnormal, to be abnormal is to be detested.A striving toward the straiter [sic] resemblance of the Average Man than he hath to himself, whoso attaineth thereto shall have peace, the prospect of death and the hope of Hell.
Summary
This quote suggests that deviating from societal norms and being independent is considered abnormal and therefore despised. It implies that individuals should strive to conform to the standards of the average person rather than embracing their own unique qualities. By conforming, one supposedly attains peace, acceptance of mortality, and the expectation of punishment in the afterlife. It presents a cynical viewpoint on the pressure to conform and the consequences of deviating from societal expectations.