Ambrose Bierce Quotes - Page 10

• Contempt; the feeling of a prudent man for an enemy who is too formidable safely to be opposed.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Men, Feelings, Enemy

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.2374, Delphi Classics

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• Self-denial is indulgence of a propensity to forego.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Self, Denial, Indulgence

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.1223, Delphi Classics

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• Women of genius commonly have masculine faces, figures and manners. In transplanting brains to an alien soil God leaves a little of the original earth clinging to the roots.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Women, Roots, Brain

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.1223, Delphi Classics

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• COMMERCE, n. A kind of transaction in which A plunders from B the goods of C, and for compensation B picks the pocket of D of money belonging to E.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Money, Pockets, Kind

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.38, University of Georgia Press

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• SIREN, n. One of several musical prodigies famous for a vain attempt to dissuade Odysseus from a life on the ocean wave. Figuratively, any lady of splendid promise, dissembled purpose and disappointing performance.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Life, Ocean, Musical

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.215, University of Georgia Press

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• DEINOTHERIUM, n. An extinct pachyderm that flourished when the Pterodactyl was in fashion. The latter was a native of Ireland, its name being pronounced Terry Dactyl or Peter O'Dactyl, as the man pronouncing it may chance to have heard it spoken or seen it printed.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Fashion, Men, Names

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.51, University of Georgia Press

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• PALMISTRY, n. The 947th method . . . of obtaining money by false pretences [by] "reading character" in the wrinkles [of] the hand. The pretence is not altogether false. . . for the wrinkles in every hand submitted plainly spell the word "dupe."

  Ambrose Bierce

  Money, Reading, Character

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• Magic: (n) The art of converting superstition into coin.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Art, Magic, Coins

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• ORPHAN, n. A living person whom death has deprived of the power of filial ingratitude . . .

  Ambrose Bierce

  Life, Death, Power

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.175, University of Georgia Press

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• When you have made a catalogue of your friend's faults it is only fair to supply him with a duplicate, so that he may know yours.

  Ambrose Bierce

  May, Faults, Made

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.2690, Delphi Classics

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• PILLORY, n. A mechanical device for inflicting personal distinction - prototype of the modern newspaper conducted by persons of austere virtues and blameless lives.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Life, Virtue, Modern

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.164, 谷月社

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• LIVER, n. A large red organ thoughtfully provided by nature to be bilious with. The sentiments and emotions which every literary anatomist now knows to haunt the heart were anciently believed to infest the liver; and even Gascoygne, speaking of the emotional side of human nature, calls it "our hepaticall parte." It was at one time considered the seat of life; hence its name- liver, the thing we live with.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Heart, Science, Emotional

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.152, University of Georgia Press

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• EUCHARIST, n. A sacred feast of the religious sect of Theophagi. A dispute once unhappily arose among the members of this sect as to what it was that they ate. In this controversy some five hundred thousand have already been slain, and the question is still unsettled.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Religious, Food, Cooking

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.71, University of Georgia Press

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• REBEL, n. A proponent of a new misrule who has failed to establish it.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Failure, Rebel

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.194, University of Georgia Press

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• MESMERISM, n. Hypnotism before it wore good clothes, kept a carriage and asked Incredulity to dinner.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Science, Clothes, Dinner

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.164, University of Georgia Press

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• PUSH, n. One of the two things mainly conducive to success, especially in politics. The other is Pull.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Success, Congratulations, Two

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.189, University of Georgia Press

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• The liberality of one who has much, in permitting one who has nothing to get all that he can.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Liberality

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.23, 谷月社

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• OBLIVION, n. Cold storage for high hopes. A place where ambitious authors meet their works without pride and their betters without envy. A dormitory without an alarm clock.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Hope, Pride, Envy

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.151, 谷月社

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• MISDEMEANOR, n. An infraction of the law having less dignity than a felony and constituting no claim to admittance into the best criminal society.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Law, Criminals, Dignity

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.164, University of Georgia Press

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• EXILE, n. One who serves his country by residing abroad, yet is not an ambassador.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Country, Ambassadors, Exile

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.60, 谷月社

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• Absence blots people out. We really have no absent friends.

  Ambrose Bierce

  People, Absence, Absent Friends

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• There are two instruments worse than a clarinet - two clarinets.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Two, Instruments, Clarinet

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• RATTLESNAKE, n. Our prostrate brother, "Homo ventrambulans".

  Ambrose Bierce

  Brother, Rattlesnakes

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.175, 谷月社

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• REAR, n. In American military matters, that exposed part of the army that is nearest to Congress.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Military, Army, Matter

  Ambrose Bierce (2011). “Ambrose Bierce: The Devil's Dictionary, Tales, and Memoirs: The Devil's Dictionary, Tales, and Memoirs”, p.768, Library of America

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• EXECUTIVE, n. An officer of the Government, whose duty it is to enforce the wishes of the legislative power until such time as the judicial department shall be pleased to pronounce them invalid and of no effect.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Time, Power, Government

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.59, 谷月社

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