Quote by Ambrose Bierce

A man is the sum of his ancestors; to reform him you must begin with a dead ape and work downward through a million graves. He is like the lower end of a suspended chain; you can sway him slightly to the right or the left, but remove your hand and he falls into line with the other links.

A man is the sum of his ancestors; to reform him you must be

Summary

This quote emphasizes that an individual's character and behavior are deeply influenced by their lineage and past generations. It suggests that changing or reforming a person requires understanding their ancestral roots and the cumulative impact of their predecessors. The analogy of a suspended chain signifies that while one can momentarily influence a person's direction, their intrinsic nature will ultimately align with their inherited traits and societal norms.

Topics

Work Man Rights Theend

By Ambrose Bierce

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