NOBLEMAN, n. Nature's provision for wealthy American minds ambitious to incur social distinction and suffer high life. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
FOLLY, n. That "gift and faculty divine" whose creative and controlling energy inspires Man's mind, guides his actions and adorns his life. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
Strive not for singularity in dress; Fools have the more and men of sense the less. To look original is not worth… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
COMFORT, n. A state of mind produced by contemplation of a neighbor's uneasiness. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
Brain: an apparatus with which we think that we think. Mind, n. A mysterious form of matter secreted by the brain. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
IMPENITENCE, n. A state of mind intermediate in point of time between sin and punishment. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
PREFERENCE, n. A sentiment, or frame of mind, induced by the erroneous belief that one thing is better than another. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
A man who piously shuts himself up to meditate upon the sin of wickedness and to keep it fresh in his mind… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
PAIN, n. An uncomfortable frame of mind that may have a physical basis in something that is being done to the body,… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
OWE, v. To have (and to hold) a debt. The word formerly signified not indebtedness, but possession; it meant "own," and in… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
ELEGY, n. A composition in verse, in which, without employing any of the methods of humor, the writer aims to produce in… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
INTENTION, n. The mind's sense of the prevalence of one set of influences over another set; an effect whose cause is the… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
Pain: an uncomfortable frame of mind that may have a physical basis in something that is being done to the body, or… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
REFLECTION,n: An Action of the mind whereby we obtain a clearer view of our relation to the things of yesterday and are… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
MIND, n. A mysterious form of matter secreted by the brain. Its chief activity consists in the endeavour to ascertain its own… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
MONAD, n. The ultimate, indivisible unit of matter (see Molecule). The monad has body without bulk, and mind without manifestation - containing… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
Immoral: Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
INFALAPSARIAN, n. One who ventures to believe that Adam need not have sinned unless he had a mind to - in opposition… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
“TRUTH, n.: An ingenious compound of desirability and appearance. Discovery of truth is the sole purpose of philosophy, which is the most… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
Curiosity, n. An objectionable quality of the female mind. The desire to know whether or not a woman is cursed with curiosity… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
“The intellectual part of his nature was already effaced; he had power only to feel, and feeling was torment. He was conscious… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
PHILISTINE, n. One whose mind is the creature of its environment, following the fashion in thought, feeling and sentiment. He is sometimes… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share
DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share
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 Copy Share
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 Copy Share
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 Copy Share
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 Copy Share
There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share
Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share
WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share
Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share
RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who… — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share
TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share
A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go. — Ambrose Bierce Copy Share
