Psychology Quotes by Ambrose Bierce

Admiration, n. Our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves.

— Ambrose Bierce

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

— Ambrose Bierce

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

— Ambrose Bierce

Brain: an apparatus with which we think that we think. Mind, n. A mysterious form of matter secreted by the brain.

— Ambrose Bierce

Dentist: a prestidigitator who, putting metal into your mouth, pulls coin out of your pocket.

— Ambrose Bierce

COMFORT, n. A state of mind produced by contemplation of a neighbor's uneasiness.

— Ambrose Bierce

“n. Our polite recognition of another’s resemblance to ourselves.”

— Ambrose Bierce

In the algebra of psychology, X stands for a woman's heart.

— Ambrose Bierce

PHILISTINE, n. One whose mind is the creature of its environment, following the fashion in thought, feeling and sentiment. He is sometimes…

— Ambrose Bierce

A man who piously shuts himself up to meditate upon the sin of wickedness and to keep it fresh in his mind…

— Ambrose Bierce

Curiosity, n. An objectionable quality of the female mind. The desire to know whether or not a woman is cursed with curiosity…

— Ambrose Bierce

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

— Ambrose Bierce

LEAD, n. A heavy blue-gray metal much used in giving stability to light lovers - particularly to those who love not wisely…

— Ambrose Bierce

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

MONAD, n. The ultimate, indivisible unit of matter (see Molecule). The monad has body without bulk, and mind without manifestation - containing…

— Ambrose Bierce

Pain: an uncomfortable frame of mind that may have a physical basis in something that is being done to the body, or…

— 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

LOSS, n. Privation of that which we had, or had not. Thus, in the latter sense, it is said of a defeated…

— Ambrose Bierce

HOMILETICS, n. The science of adapting sermons to the spiritual needs, capacities and conditions of the congregation. So skilled the parson was…

— Ambrose Bierce

Strive not for singularity in dress; Fools have the more and men of sense the less. To look original is not worth…

— Ambrose Bierce

Conversation: A fair for the display of the minor mental commodities, each exhibitor being too intent upon the arrangement of his own…

— Ambrose Bierce

“I is the first letter of the alphabet, the first word of the language, the first thought of the mind, the first…

— Ambrose Bierce

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

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

PAIN, n. An uncomfortable frame of mind that may have a physical basis in something that is being done to the body,…

— Ambrose Bierce

OWE, v. To have (and to hold) a debt. The word formerly signified not indebtedness, but possession; it meant "own," and in…

— Ambrose Bierce