Ambrose Bierce Quotes - Page 10

• There's no free will," says the philosopher; "To hang is most unjust." "There is no free will," assents the officer; "We hang because we must.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Unjust, Philosopher, Free Will

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.1211, 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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• Crowned with leaves of the laurel. In England the Poet Laureate is an officer of the sovereign's court, acting as dancing skeleton at every royal feast and singing-mute at every royal funeral.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Skeletons, Dancing, Funeral

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.2445, 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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• 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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• Magic: (n) The art of converting superstition into coin.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Art, Magic, Coins

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

  Ambrose Bierce

  Two, Instruments, Clarinet

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• Selfish, adj. Devoid of consideration for the selfishness of others.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Selfish, Selfishness, Consideration

  Ambrose Bierce (2011). “Ambrose Bierce: The Devil's Dictionary, Tales, and Memoirs: The Devil's Dictionary, Tales, and Memoirs”, p.799, Library of America

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

  Ambrose Bierce

  People, Absence, Absent Friends

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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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• Achievement; the death of endeavor and the birth of disgust.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Success, Death, Achievement

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.8, 谷月社

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