Philosophy Quotes by Ambrose Bierce

All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions is called a philosopher.

— Ambrose Bierce

All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher.

— Ambrose Bierce

When lost in a forest go always down hill. When lost in a philosophy or doctrine go upward.

— Ambrose Bierce

“In the presence of death reason and philosophy are silent”

— Ambrose Bierce

Philosophy: A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing.

— Ambrose Bierce

REALITY, n. The dream of a mad philosopher. That which would remain in the cupel if one should assay a phantom. The…

— Ambrose Bierce

The palmist looks at the wrinkles made by closing the hand and says they signify character. The philosopher reads character by what…

— Ambrose Bierce

PYRRHONISM- An ancient philosophy, named for its inventor. It consisted of an absolute disbelief in everything but Pyrrhonism. Its modern professors have…

— Ambrose Bierce

NEWTONIAN, Pertaining to a philosophy of the universe invented by Newton, who discovered that an apple will fall to the ground, but…

— Ambrose Bierce

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

— Ambrose Bierce

When prosperous the fool trembles for the evil that is to come; in adversity the philosopher smiles for the good that he…

— Ambrose Bierce

“Pessimism n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope…

— Ambrose Bierce

“n. An ancient school where morality and philosophy were taught.    ACADEMY, n. [from ACADEME] A modern school where football is taught.”

— Ambrose Bierce

“Cartesian,adj. Relating to Descartes, a famous philosopher, author of the celebrated dictum, Cogito ergo sum- whereby he was pleased to suppose he…

— Ambrose Bierce

“TRUTH, n.: An ingenious compound of desirability and appearance. Discovery of truth is the sole purpose of philosophy, which is the most…

— Ambrose Bierce

Immoral: Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient…

— Ambrose Bierce

By _Abracadabra_ we signify An infinite number of things. 'Tis the answer to What? and How? and Why? And Whence? and Whither?…

— Ambrose Bierce

There's no free will," says the philosopher; "To hang is most unjust." "There is no free will," assents the officer; "We hang…

— Ambrose Bierce

GNOSTICS, n. A sect of philosophers who tried to engineer a fusion between the early Christians and the Platonists. The former would…

— Ambrose Bierce

Academe, n.: An ancient school where morality and philosophy were taught. Academy, n.: A modern school where football is taught.

— Ambrose Bierce

APHORISM, n. Predigested wisdom. The flabby wine-skin of his brain Yields to some pathologic strain, And voids from its unstored abysm The…

— Ambrose Bierce

POSITIVISM- A philosophy that denies our knowledge of the Real and affirms our ignorance of the Apparent. Its longest exponent is Comte,…

— Ambrose Bierce

PERIPATETIC, adj. Walking about. Relating to the philosophy of Aristotle, who, while expounding it, moved from place to place in order to…

— Ambrose Bierce

PLATONIC, adj. Pertaining to the philosophy of Socrates. Platonic Love is a fool's name for the affection between a disability and a…

— Ambrose Bierce