"Litigant. A person about to give up his skin for the hope of retaining his bones"
- Ambrose Bierce
About this Quote
This quote by Ambrose Bierce is a metaphor for someone who is about to take a danger in order to acquire something. The expression "quit his skin" is a reference to the concept of compromising something in order to gain something else. The "bones" represent the reward that the individual is wishing to acquire. The quote is recommending that the individual is willing to take a threat in order to gain something, even if it indicates sacrificing something else. This might be analyzed as an alerting to be mindful when taking risks, as the benefit might not deserve the cost. It could likewise be translated as a pointer to be brave and take risks in order to acquire something, as the reward may be worth the expense. Eventually, this quote is a tip that taking dangers can be helpful, but it is important to weigh the expense and reward before deciding.
"Poets have said that the reason to have children is to give yourself immortality. Immortality? Now that I have five children, my only hope is that they are all out of the house before I die"
"Courage is sometimes frail as hope is frail: a fragile shoot between two stones that grows brave toward the sun though warmth and brightness fail, striving and faith the only strength it knows"
