Ambrose Bierce Quotes - Page 29

• Hash, x. There is no definition for this word - nobody knows what hash is. Famous, adj. Conspicuously miserable. Dictionary, n. A malevolent literary device for cramping the growth of a language and making it hard and inelastic. This dictionary, however, is a most useful work.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Growth, Definitions, Language

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• Youth is Gilead, in which is balm for every wound.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Youth, Wounds

  Ambrose Bierce (2015). “Can Such Things Be?”, p.30, Sheba Blake Publishing

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• me, pro. The objectionable case of I. The personal pronoun in English has three cases, the dominative, the objectionable and the oppressive. Each is all three.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Ego, Three, Pronouns

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.141, 谷月社

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• YANKEE, n. In Europe, an American. In the Northern States of our Union, a New Englander. In the Southern States the word is unknown.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Yankees, Europe, Southern

  Ambrose Bierce (2012). “The Devil's Dictionary”, p.137, Courier Corporation

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• The clarinet is a musical instrument the only thing worse than which is two.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Two, Musical, Instruments

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• Nature's fortuitous manifestation of her purposeless objectionableness.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Nature, Science, Admonition

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

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• SYCOPHANT- One who approaches Greatness on his belly so that he may not be commanded to turn and be kicked. He is sometimes an editor.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Greatness, Editors, Sycophants

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.220, University of Georgia Press

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• ORTHODOX, n. An ox wearing the popular religious joke.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Religious, Religion, Orthodox

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.2473, Delphi Classics

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• REPENTANCE, n. The faithful attendant and follower of Punishment. It is usually manifest in a degree of reformation that is not inconsistent with continuity of sin.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Faith, Punishment, Followers

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.181, 谷月社

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• A violin is the revenge exacted by the intestines of a dead cat.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Revenge, Cat, Violin

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• An archbishop is an ecclesiastical dignitary one point holier than a bishop.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Bishops

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.17, University of Georgia Press

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• To renounce an honor for an advantage. To renounce an advantage for a greater advantage.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Honor, Advantage, Renounce

  Ambrose Bierce (2009). “The Devil's Dictionary: Easyread Super Large 24pt Edition”, p.176, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• REVEILLE, n. A signal to sleeping soldiers to dream of battlefields no more, but get up and have their blue noses counted.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Dream, Sleep, Blue

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.186, 谷月社

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• The most intolerant advocate is he who is trying to convince himself.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Trying, Convince

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.2697, Delphi Classics

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• The speech of one who utters with his tongue what he thinks with his ear, and feels the pride of a creator in accomplishing the feat of a parrot. A means (under Providence) of setting up as a wit without a capital of sense.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Mean, Pride, Thinking

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

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• LIVER, n. A large red organ thoughtfully provided by nature to be bilious with. The liver is heaven's best gift to the goose; without it that bird would be unable to supply us with the Strasbourg "pate".

  Ambrose Bierce

  Nature, Bird, Heaven

  Ambrose Bierce (2009). “The Devil's Dictionary: Easyread Super Large 18pt Edition”, p.203, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• Witticism. A sharp and clever remark, usually quoted and seldom noted; what the Philistine is pleased to call a joke.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Clever, Philistines, Remarks

  Ambrose Bierce (2012). “The Devil's Dictionary”, p.136, Courier Corporation

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• PRESENTABLE, adj. Hideously appareled after the manner of the time and place.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Time

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.170, 谷月社

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• PATRIOT, n. One to whom the interests of a part seem superior to those of the whole. The dupe of statesmen and the tool of conquerors.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Sarcastic, Tools, Dupes

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.179, University of Georgia Press

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• MISERICORDE, n. A dagger which in mediaeval warfare was used by the foot soldier to remind an unhorsed knight that he was mortal.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Knights, Feet, Soldier

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.145, 谷月社

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• SATIRE, n. An obsolete kind of literary composition in which the vices and follies of the author's enemies were expounded with imperfect tenderness.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Kindness, Imperfection, Enemy

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.197, 谷月社

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• An aged Burgundy runs with a beardless Port. I cherish the fancy that Port speaks sentences of wisdom, Burgundy sings the inspired Ode.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Running, Wine, Alcohol

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• Don't board with the devil if you wish to be fat.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Wish, Devil, Boards

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.2697, Delphi Classics

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• Loquacity, n. A disorder which renders the sufferer unable to curb his tongue when you wish to talk.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Wish, Tongue, Disorder

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.154, University of Georgia Press

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• BODY-SNATCHER, n. A robber of grave-worms. One who supplies the young physicians with that with which the old physicians have supplied the undertaker.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Science, Physicians, Body

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.22, 谷月社

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