Ambrose Bierce Quotes - Page 23

• QUEEN, n. A woman by whom the realm is ruled when there is a king, and through whom it is ruled when there is not.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Kings, Queens, Women

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.2489, Delphi Classics

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• PLAGIARIZE, v. To take the thought or style of another writer whom one has never, never read.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Style

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.183, University of Georgia Press

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• MAGNITUDE, n. Size [that is] purely relative. If everything in the universe were increased 1,000 diameters nothing would be any larger than it was before, but if one thing remain unchanged all the others would be larger than they had been.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Would Be, Size, Magnitude

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• RESPIRATOR, n. An apparatus fitted over the nose and mouth of an inhabitant of London, whereby to filter the visible universe in its passage to the lungs.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Filters, Noses, Mouths

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.183, 谷月社

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• EXTINCTION, n. The raw material out of which theology created the future state.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Sarcastic, Future, Raw Materials

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.61, 谷月社

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• Twice – Once too often.

  Ambrose Bierce

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• Revelation: a famous book in which St. John the Divine concealed all that he knew. The revealing is done by the commentators, who know nothing.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Bible, Book, Done

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.200, University of Georgia Press

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• Gout, a physician's name for the rheumatism of a rich patient

  Ambrose Bierce

  Names, Physicians, Gout

  The Devil's Dictionary

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• PERIPATETIC, adj. Walking about. Relating to the philosophy of Aristotle, who, while expounding it, moved from place to place in order to avoid his pupil's objections. A needless precaution - they knew no more of the matter than he.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Philosophy, Order, Matter

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.161, 谷月社

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• REDRESS, n. Reparation without satisfaction.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Satisfaction, Redress, Reparations

  Ambrose Bierce (2004). “The Devil's Dictionaries: The Best of the Devil's Dictionary and the American Heretic's Dictionary”, p.40, See Sharp Press

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• Women and foxes, being weak, are distinguished by superior tact.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Foxes, Weak, Tact

  Ambrose Bierce (2015). “A Cynic Looks at Life”, p.38, Sheba Blake Publishing

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• FLAG, n. A colored rag borne above troops and hoisted on forts and ships. It appears to serve the same purpose as certain signs that one sees and vacant lots in London

  Ambrose Bierce

  Rags, Troops, Purpose

  Ambrose Bierce (1973). “The Collected Writings of Ambrose Bierce”, Ayer Company Pub

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• WIDOW, n. A pathetic figure that the Christian world has agreed to take humorously, although Christ's tenderness towards widows was one of the most marked features of his character.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Christian, Character, Widows

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.2540, Delphi Classics

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• PENITENT, adj. Undergoing or awaiting punishment.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Punishment

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.2478, Delphi Classics

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• RECREATION, n. A particular kind of dejection to relieve a general fatigue.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Kindness, Recreation, Fatigue

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

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• You cannot adopt politics as a profession and remain honest.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Political, Liberty, Libertarian

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• MERCY, n. An attribute beloved of detected offenders.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Love, Mercy, Attributes

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

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• PRICE, n. Value, plus a reasonable sum for the wear and tear of conscience in demanding it.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Tears, Plus, Reasonable

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.171, 谷月社

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• Past, n. That part of Eternity with some small fraction of which we have a slight and regrettable acquaintance. A moving line called the Present parts it from an imaginary period known as the Future. These two grand divisions of Eternity, of which the one is continually effacing the other, are entirely unlike. The one is dark with sorrow and disappointment, the other bright with prosperity and joy.... Yet the Past is the Future of yesterday, the Future is the Past of to-morrow. They are one-the knowledge and the dream.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Dream, Disappointment, Moving

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.160, 谷月社

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• Experience is a revelation in the light of which we renounce our errors of youth for those of age.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Birthday, Errors, Light

  Ambrose Bierce (1911). “The collected works”

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• Prejudice - a vagrant opinion without visible means of support.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Mean, Support, Religion

  Devil's Dictionary (1911) p. 264

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• It is evident that skepticism, while it makes no actual change in man, always makes him feel better.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Change, Feel Better, Men

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• Heaven lies about us in our infancy and the world begins lying about us pretty soon afterward.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Time, Lying, Childhood

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• THEOSOPHY, n. An ancient faith having all the certitude of religion and all the mystery of science.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Religion, Mystery, Ancient

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.220, 谷月社

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• PHILISTINE, n. One whose mind is the creature of its environment, following the fashion in thought, feeling and sentiment. He is sometimes learned, frequently prosperous, commonly clean and always solemn.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Fashion, Learning, Feelings

  Ambrose Bierce (2012). “The Devil's Dictionary”, p.93, Courier Corporation

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