# H explained — The Devil’s Dictionary

> Chapter companion for The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

This chapter presents a series of cynical definitions for words beginning with 'H', including 'Harangue', 'Harbor', 'Harmonists', 'Hatred', 'Head-Money', 'Heart', 'Heat', 'Heathen', 'Heaven', 'Hebrew', 'Helpmate', 'Hemp', 'Hermit', 'Hibernate', 'Hippogriff', 'Historian', 'History', 'Hog', 'Homeopathist', 'Homeopathy', 'Homicide', 'Homiletics', 'Honor', 'Hybrid', 'Hydra', 'Hyena', 'Hypochondriasis', and 'Hypocrite'. The entries are laced with satirical verses and dark humor, targeting religion, politics, social conventions, and human folly.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Duplicity

The definition of 'Hypocrite' directly addresses this theme, and many entries (e.g., 'Heathen', 'History') expose double standards and pretense.

### Critique of Religion

Definitions like 'Heathen', 'Heaven', 'Hebrew', and 'Homeopathy' mock religious beliefs and practices, while the poem in 'Heathen' satirizes religious intolerance.

### Human Folly and Self-Deception

Entries such as 'Heart', 'Hypochondriasis', and 'Homicide' highlight human irrationality and self-delusion.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator provides the definitions and commentary throughout the chapter.

### Death

Attributed as G. J. Hearse in the poem under 'Head-Money'.

### Professor Howison

Mentioned in the definition of 'Heathen' as a Christian philosopher who calls Hebrews heathens.

### Great Niebuhr

Referenced in the definition of 'History' as a historian whose work is questioned.

### Andrew Carnegie

Alluded to in the definition of 'Hog' through the scientific name Porcus Rockefelleri, referencing Rockefeller.

## Key lines

> Heart An automatic, muscular blood-pump. Figuratively, this useful organ is said to be the seat of emotions and sentiments—a very pretty fancy which, however, is nothing but a survival of a once universal belief. It is now known that the sentiments and emotions reside in the stomach, being evolved from food by chemical action of the gastric fluid.

The heart is just a blood pump; the idea that it houses emotions is an old myth—modern science says feelings come from digestion.

_Bierce satirizes the romantic notion of the heart by reducing emotions to a digestive process._

> History An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.

History is largely a false record of trivial events driven by corrupt leaders and foolish soldiers.

_This definition encapsulates Bierce's cynical view of historical narrative._

> Hypocrite One who, professing virtues that he does not respect, secures the advantage of seeming to be what he despises.

A hypocrite pretends to have virtues they don't believe in, just to gain the benefits of appearing virtuous.

_A concise and biting definition of hypocrisy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_devil_s_dictionary_se/chapters/h
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_devil_s_dictionary_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_devil_s_dictionary_se/chapters