# CCXVIII explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief admonition against dwelling on the past at the expense of the future, warning that excessive reflection can mislead rather than guide.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Self-Deception

The mirror as a poor guide suggests self-deception in how one views one's own past.

## Key lines

> While you have a future do not live too much in contemplation of your past: unless you are content to walk backward the mirror is a poor guide.

Don't spend so much time reflecting on the past that you neglect the future; looking backward is not a reliable way to move forward.

_Advice against excessive nostalgia or regret, emphasizing forward momentum._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/ccxviii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters