"SATIRE, n. An obsolete kind of literary composition……" — Ambrose Bierce
"SATIRE, n. An obsolete kind of literary composition in which the vices and follies of the author's enemies were expounded with imperfect tenderness. In this country satire never had more than a sickly and uncertain existence, for the soul of it is wit, wherein we are dolefully deficient, the humor that we mistake for it, like all humor, being tolerant and sympathetic. Moreover, although Americans are endowed by their Creator with abundant vice and folly, it is not generally known that these are reprehensible qualities, wherefore the satirist is popularly regarded as a soul-spirited knave, and his ever victim's outcry for codefendants evokes a national assent. Hail Satire! be thy praises ever sung In the dead language of a mummy's tongue, For thou thyself art dead, and damned as well -- Thy spirit (usefully employed) in Hell. Had it been such as consecrates the Bible Thou hadst not perished by the law of libel. --Barney Stims."
—
Ambrose Bierce
★
★
★
★
★
0.0 avg (0 ratings)
More Abundant Quotes
This quote is filed under Abundant Quotes,
one of 289 quotes in that category. Here are a few more:
-
The more you learn what to do with yourself, and the more you do for others, the more you will…
— William J. H. Boetcker
-
Trust perfected is prayer perfected. Trust looks to receive the thing asked for and gets it. Trust is not a…
— Edward McKendree Bounds
-
Three keys to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others.
— William Arthur Ward
-
The exercise of voluntary attention in the schoolroom must therefore be counted one of the most important points of training…
— William James
-
One defends when his strength is inadequate, he attacks when it is abundant.
— Sun Tzu
-
Money is a singular thing. It ranks with love as man's greatest source of joy. And with death as his…
— John Kenneth Galbraith
-
God gives us abundant material blessing so that we can give it away, and give it generously.
— Randy Alcorn
-
The good life is using your signature strengths every day to produce authentic happiness and abundant gratification.
— Martin Seligman
-
In the past our glorious visions of the future - heaven, paradise, nirvana - were thought to happen after death.…
— Barbara Marx Hubbard
-
That the saints may enjoy their beatitude and the grace of God more abundantly they are permitted to see the…
— Thomas Aquinas
-
It yet remains a problem to be solved in human affairs, whether any free government can be permanent, where the…
— Joseph Story
-
We have abundant reason to rejoice that in this Land the light of truth and reason has triumphed over the…
— George Washington
See all 289 Abundant Quotes »