# CVI explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief aphorism reflecting on the self-awareness of a 'man's man' regarding his disdain for a 'ladies' man.'

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Self-Deception

The aphorism suggests a lack of self-awareness or hidden motives in the 'man's man' who despises the 'ladies' man.'

## Key lines

> It is a wise 'man's man' who knows what it is that he despises in a 'ladies' man.'

A truly self-aware masculine man understands the real reason he resents a man who is successful with women.

_The chapter is a single aphoristic sentence, so this is the only paraphrase._

## Links

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