"Enthusiasm - a distemper of youth, curable by small doses of repentance in connection with outward applications of experience"

This quote by Ambrose Bierce suggests that enthusiasm is a trait of youth that can be cured with a combination of reflection and experience. Bierce implies that enthusiasm is a kind of "distemper," or illness, that can be treated with "small doses of repentance" or regret for past actions, and "outward applications of experience," or the knowledge gained from life experiences. In other words, as we grow older, we should learn from our mistakes and become more aware of the consequences of our actions. This quote suggests that enthusiasm is a natural part of youth, but that it can be tempered with age and wisdom.