Ambrose Bierce Quotes - Page 39

• PERFECTION, n. An imaginary state of quality distinguished from the actual by an element known as excellence; an attribute of the critic.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Perfection, Excellence, Quality

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

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• HUMORIST, n. A plague that would have softened down the hoar austerity of Pharaoh's heart and persuaded him to dismiss Israel with his best wishes, cat-quick.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Heart, Cat, Israel

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.114, University of Georgia Press

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• Consult: To seek approval for a course of action already decided upon.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Sarcastic, Appreciate, Approval

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• HEART, n. Figuratively, this useful organ is said to be the seat of emotions and sentiments . . . . It is now known that sentiments and emotions reside in the stomach, being evolved from food by chemical action of the gastric fluid.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Heart, Action, Emotion

  Ambrose Bierce (2009). “The Devil's Dictionary: Easyread Large Bold Edition”, p.116, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• OLD, adj. In that stage of usefulness which is not inconsistent with general inefficiency, as an "old man". Discredited by lapse of time and offensive to the popular taste, as an "old" book.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Time, Book, Men

  Ambrose Bierce (2012). “The Devil's Dictionary”, p.87, Courier Corporation

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• DIARY, n. A daily record of that part of one's life, which he can relate to himself without blushing.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Life, Diaries, Records

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.45, 谷月社

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• Nominee. A modest gentleman shrinking from the distinction of private life and diligently seeking the honorable obscurity of public office.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Life, Office, Gentleman

  Ambrose Bierce (2012). “The Devil's Dictionary”, p.85, Courier Corporation

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• LEAD, n. A heavy blue-gray metal much used in giving stability to light lovers - particularly to those who love not wisely but other men's wives.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Love, Men, Light

  Ambrose Bierce (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)”, p.2446, Delphi Classics

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• ACKNOWLEDGE, v.t. To confess. Acknowledgment of one another's faults is the highest duty imposed by our love of truth.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Love, Truth, Faults

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.11, University of Georgia Press

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• QUIXOTIC, adj. Absurdly chivalric, like Don Quixote. An insight into the beauty and excellence of this incomparable adjective is unhappily denied to him who has the misfortune to know that the gentleman's name is pronounced Ke-ho-tay.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Beauty, Names, Gentleman

  Ambrose Bierce (2009). “The Devil's Dictionary: Easyread Super Large 18pt Edition”, p.285, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• HUSBAND, n. One who, having dined, is charged with the care of the plate.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Husband, Care, Plates

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.115, University of Georgia Press

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• FREEBOOTER, n. A conqueror in a small way of business, whose annexations lack of the sanctifying merit of magnitude.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Business, Way, Merit

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.87, University of Georgia Press

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• IMPENITENCE, n. A state of mind intermediate in point of time between sin and punishment.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Time, Punishment, Mind

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.119, University of Georgia Press

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• Irreligion - the principal one of the great faiths of the world.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Religion, Atheism, World

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.115, 谷月社

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• Example is better than following it.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Example, Following

  Ambrose Bierce (2012). “The Devil's Dictionary”, p.114, Courier Corporation

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• LOVE, n. A temporary insanity curable by marriage or by removal of the patient from the influences under which he incurred the disorder.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Love, Temporary Insanity, Patient

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.155, University of Georgia Press

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• DEPENDENT, adj. Reliant upon another's generosity for the support which you are not in a position to exact from his fears.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Fear, Generosity, Support

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.53, University of Georgia Press

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• MULTITUDE, n. A crowd; the source of political wisdom and virtue. In a republic, the object of the statesman's adoration.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Wisdom, Political, Crowds

  Ambrose Bierce, S. T. Joshi, David E. Schultz (2000). “The Fall of the Republic and Other Political Satires”, p.223, Univ. of Tennessee Press

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• EPIGRAM, n. A short, sharp saying in prose or verse, frequently characterize by acidity or acerbity and sometimes by wisdom.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Wisdom, Sometimes, Prose

  Ambrose Bierce (2009). “The Devil's Dictionary: Easyread Large Bold Edition”, p.71, ReadHowYouWant.com

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• An immaterial but visible being that inhabited the air when the air was an element and before it was fatally polluted with factory smoke, sewer gas and similar products of civilization.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Air, Civilization, Elements

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.215, 谷月社

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• Women in love are less ashamed than men. They have less to be ashamed of.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Love, Women, Men

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.56, 谷月社

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• There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Genius, Fool

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

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• APHORISM, n. Predigested wisdom.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Wisdom, Aphorism

  Ambrose Bierce (2016). “The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World”, p.12, 谷月社

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• ADAGE, n. Boned wisdom for weak teeth.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Wisdom, Teeth, Weak

  Ambrose Bierce (2001). “The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary”, p.12, University of Georgia Press

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• Children who have proven themselves to be incorrigible by the age of twelve should be quickly and quietly beheaded, lest they grow to maturity, marry, and perpetuate the likeness of their being.

  Ambrose Bierce

  Children, Maturity, Age

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