"I believe we shall come to care about people less and less. The more people one knows the easier it becomes to replace them. It's one of the curses of London"
- Ambrose Bierce
About this Quote
This quote by Ambrose Bierce talks to the idea that the more individuals one understands, the simpler it is to replace them. This is a commentary on the short-term nature of life in a large city like London, where individuals come and go and relationships are typically short lived. Bierce recommends that the more people one understands, the less one will appreciate them, as it becomes much easier to replace them. This is an unfortunate commentary on the human condition, as it indicates that people are disposable which relationships are not valued. It speaks to the concept that in a large city, it is simple to end up being detached from individuals and to forget the value of relationships. Bierce's quote is a pointer to value the relationships we have and to value the people in our lives.