# CCXXXII explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief admonition against attempting to atone for wealth through apology, insisting instead on restitution to the accuser.

## Themes in this chapter

### Justice and Revenge

The demand for restitution over apology suggests a theme of corrective justice.

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The warning against using apology as a false atonement for wealth implies hypocrisy.

## Key lines

> Think not to atone for wealth by apology: you must make restitution to the accuser.

Do not believe you can make up for having wealth by simply apologizing; you must give back to the one who accuses you.

_A direct moral injunction against empty apologies and in favor of tangible reparation._

## Links

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