# Foundations of the State explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

The chapter satirizes various intellectual and moral claims about the foundations of the state, comparing them to a chaotic cacophony of cranks and theorists. Each figure—whether advocating Truth, Temperance, Science, Faith, or Love—is mocked for their certainty. The chapter ends with a dying man's dismissal of doctors' disputes over his illness, underscoring the futility of such arguments.

## Themes in this chapter

### Political Satire

The chapter mocks the competing claims of Truth, Temperance, Science, Faith, and Love as foundations of the state, reducing them to absurdity.

### Deception and Self-Deception

Each crank is portrayed as self-deceived, believing their pet theory is the sole foundation of the state, while the narrator sees their folly.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator observes and critiques the various cranks and their theories about the state.

## Key lines

> Observe, dear Lord, what lively pranks Are played by sentimental cranks!

Look, Lord, at the ridiculous antics of emotional fanatics.

_The opening lines set a tone of mockery toward those who hold strong opinions about the state._

> This one avers ’tis built on Truth, And that on Temperance. This youth Declares that Science bears the pile; That graybeard, with a holy smile, Says Faith is the supporting stone; While women swear that Love alone Could so unflinchingly endure The heavy load.

One claims the state is founded on Truth, another on Temperance; a young man says Science supports it, an old man says Faith, and women insist only Love can bear the burden.

_The narrator lists the various conflicting theories about the state's foundation, highlighting their diversity and mutual exclusivity._

> Tut, tut! the dying man exclaimed, What made me ill I do not care; You’ve not an ounce of it, I’ll swear. And if you had the skill to make it I’d see you hanged before I’d take it!

The dying man dismisses the doctors' debate, saying he doesn't care about the cause of his illness and would refuse any cure they might offer.

_The anecdote parallels the earlier arguments about the state, suggesting that such disputes are irrelevant to the actual sufferer._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/foundations-of-the-state
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters