Business Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“An auctioneer is a man who proclaims with a hammer that he has picked a pocket with his tongue.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: "The Devil's Dictionary", Ambrose Bierce, 1906
An auctioneer uses clever speech to metaphorically steal from others, highlighting deceptive persuasion.
In simple terms: Auctioneers can manipulate with words.
Key Takeaway
Beware of persuasive language.
Themes
deception
language
power
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
satirical
observational
When to use this quote
- sales
- political speeches
- media
- everyday conversation
Key Concepts
rhetoric
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you spot linguistic manipulation?
- When is persuasive speech ethical?
A Different Perspective
Not all persuasive speech is harmful; context matters.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)