Belief Quotes by Ambrose Bierce

20 Belief quotes by Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Bierce’s 20 lines on belief are laced with his signature sarcasm. He turns the concept of conviction on its head, offering a cynical yet thought‑provoking perspective.

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Optimism - the doctrine or belief that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly.

Ambrose Bierce

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Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel.

Ambrose Bierce

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RUIN, v. To destroy. Specifically, to destroy a maid's belief in the virtue of maids.

Ambrose Bierce

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PREFERENCE, n. A sentiment, or frame of mind, induced by the erroneous belief that one thing is better than another.

Ambrose Bierce

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Absurdity: A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one's own opinion.

Ambrose Bierce

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BEG, v. To ask for something with an earnestness proportioned to the belief that it will not be given.

Ambrose Bierce

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Faith. Belief without evidencein what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, ofthings without parallel.

Ambrose Bierce

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Rome has seven sacraments, but the Protestant churches, being less prosperous, feel that they can afford only two, and these of inferior…

Ambrose Bierce

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MALTHUSIAN, adj. Pertaining to Malthus and his doctrines, who believed in artificially limiting population, but found that it could not be done…

Ambrose Bierce

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A comely female inhabiting the Mohammedan Paradise to make things cheery for the good Mussulman, whose belief in her existence marks a…

Ambrose Bierce

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NECTAR, n. A drink served at banquets of the Olympian deities. The secret of its preparation is lost, but the modern Kentuckians…

Ambrose Bierce

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INFALAPSARIAN, n. One who ventures to believe that Adam need not have sinned unless he had a mind to - in opposition…

Ambrose Bierce

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WALL STREET, n. A symbol for sin for every devil to rebuke. That Wall Street is a den of thieves is a…

Ambrose Bierce

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SACERDOTALIST, n. One who holds the belief that a clergyman is a priest. Denial of this momentous doctrine is the hardest challenge…

Ambrose Bierce

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POVERTY, n. A file provided for the teeth of the rats of reform. Its victims are distinguished by possession of all the…

Ambrose Bierce

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He who thinks with difficulty believes with alacrity. A fool is a natural proselyte, but he must be caught young, for his…

Ambrose Bierce

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optimism, n. The doctrine, or belief, that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly, everything good, especially the bad, and everything right…

Ambrose Bierce

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OPTIMISM, n. The doctrine, or belief, that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly, everything good, especially the bad, and everything right…

Ambrose Bierce

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Christian, n.: one who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his…

Ambrose Bierce

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MYTHOLOGY, n. The body of a primitive people's beliefs concerning its origin, early history, heroes, deities and so forth, as distinguished from…

Ambrose Bierce

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OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…

Ambrose Bierce

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DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.

Ambrose Bierce

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IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…

Ambrose Bierce

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REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…

Ambrose Bierce

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CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…

Ambrose Bierce

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RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.

Ambrose Bierce