"Genealogy, n. An account of one's descent from a man who did not particularly care to trace his own"

This quote by Ambrose Bierce is an amusing take on the practice of genealogy. It implies that tracing one's household history is a futile undertaking, as the forefather in question likely had no interest in doing so themselves. This might be translated as a commentary on the vanity of attempting to trace one's family tree, as it is ultimately an ineffective endeavor. It could likewise be viewed as a criticism of the idea that a person's origins is a procedure of their worth, as the ancestor in concern was not thinking about tracing their own family tree. Eventually, this quote serves as a reminder that a person's ancestry is not necessarily a sign of their worth or character.