# CVIII explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief reflection on the nature of democracies, suggesting that the only distinction they reward is a high degree of conformity.

## Themes in this chapter

### Political Satire

The chapter critiques democratic systems by suggesting they reward conformity over individuality.

## Key lines

> The only distinction that democracies reward is a high degree of conformity.

Democracies only value and reward those who conform to the majority.

_A cynical observation on the nature of democratic reward systems._

## Links

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