Ambrose Bierce Quotes

• A nation that will not enforce its laws has no claim to the respect and allegiance of its people.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Law, People, Claims

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.2272, Delphi Classics

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• In each human heart are a tiger, a pig, an ass and a nightingale. Diversity of character is due to their unequal activity.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Funny, Integrity, Heart

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.68, University of Georgia Press

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• Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Gun, Lunch, Democracies Have

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  Politics: A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Political Will, Greed, Nerd

  Ambrose Bierce (2009). “The Devil's Dictionary: Easyread Super Large 18pt Edition”, p.271, ReadHowYouWant.com

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  Idiot, n. A member of a large and powerful tribe whose influence in human affairs has always been dominant and controlling.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Powerful, Hatred, Tribes

  Ambrose Bierce (2009). “The Devil's Dictionary: Easyread Large Bold Edition”, p.128, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• Happiness is lost by criticizing it; sorrow by accepting it.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Sorrow, Accepting, Lost

  "The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce". Book by Ambrose Bierce, 1911.

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• Responsibility, n. A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one's neighbor. In the days of astrology it was customary to unload it upon a star.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Stars, Responsibility, Fate

  Ambrose Bierce (2012). “The Devil's Dictionary”, p.106, Courier Corporation

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• There is nothing new under the sun but there are lots of old things we don't know.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Learning, Science, Old Things

  “FBI revisiting Clinton emails just latest in long history of 'October Surprises“ by Chad Pergram, www.foxnews.com. October 29, 2016.

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• War is God's way of teaching Americans geography.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Funny, Peace, Military

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• Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Inspirational, Cute, Sad

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• Be as decent as you can. Don't believe without evidence. Treat things divine with marked respect — don't have anything to do with them. Do not trust humanity without collateral security; it will play you some scurvy trick. Remember that it hurts no one to be treated as an enemy entitled to respect until he shall prove himself a friend worthy of affection. Cultivate a taste for distasteful truths. And, finally, most important of all, endeavor to see things as they are, not as they ought to be.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Hurt, Believe, Play

  Ambrose Bierce, S. T. Joshi (2000). “The Collected Fables of Ambrose Bierce”, p.15, Ohio State University Press

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• Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Inspirational, Money, Math

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• Coward: One who, in a perilous emergency, thinks with his legs.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Sarcastic, Courage, Peace

  Ambrose Bierce (2009). “The Devil's Dictionary: Easyread Large Bold Edition”, p.45, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• Present, n. That part of eternity dividing the domain of disappointment from the realm of hope.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Hope, Disappointment, Eternity

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.169, 谷月社

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• The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Funny, Dog, Humor

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.13, University of Georgia Press

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• An election is nothing more than the advanced auction of stolen goods.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Deception, Auctions, Election

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• If you want to read a perfect book there is only one way: write it.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Book, Writing, Perfect

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.2692, Delphi Classics

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• A popular author is one who writes what the people think. Genius invites them to think something else.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Writing, Thinking, People

  Ambrose Bierce (2012). “The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 8 Epigrams, On With the Dance, Negligible Tales”, p.249, tredition

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• Conservative, n: A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal who wishes to replace them with others.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Evil, Political, Wish

  Cynic's Word Book (1906) p. 56

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• Academe, n.: An ancient school where morality and philosophy were taught. Academy, n.: A modern school where football is taught.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Inspirational, Graduation, Sports

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.10, University of Georgia Press

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• Pray: To ask the laws of the universe to be annulled on behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Funny, Prayer, Humor

  Ambrose Bierce (2012). “The Devil's Dictionary”, p.96, Courier Corporation

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• Quotation, n: The act of repeating erroneously the words of another.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Quotations

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.174, 谷月社

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• Conversation, n.: A vocal competition in which the one who is catching his breath is called the listener.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Competition, Conversation, Catching

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  Religion. A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Daughter, Religious, Nature

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.196, University of Georgia Press

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• He who thinks with difficulty believes with alacrity.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Believe, Thinking, Alacrity

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.1216, Delphi Classics

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