Money Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“PALMISTRY, n. The 947th method (according to Mimbleshaw's classification) of obtaining money by false pretences. It consists in reading character in the wrinkles made by closing the hand. The pretence is not altogether false; character can really be read very accurately in this way, for the wrinkles in every hand submitted plainly spell the word dupe. The imposture consists in not reading it aloud.”
About This Quote
Source Dictionary: The Devil's Dictionary, 1906
A satirical definition describing a fraudulent practice of reading character in hand wrinkles while pretending not to.
In simple terms: False pretenses hide true insight.
Key Takeaway
Beware of hidden motives.
Themes
deception
skepticism
psychology
fraud
language
Mood
cynical
witty
Type
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- job interviews
- sales pitches
- political rhetoric
- social interactions
Key Concepts
charisma
body language
trust
manipulation
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you trusted a superficial sign?
- How can one verify authenticity beyond appearances?
A Different Perspective
The definition may exaggerate the accuracy of such readings.
![“PALMISTRY, n. The 947th method . . . of obtaining money by false pretences [by] "reading character" in the wrinkles [of] the hand. The pretence is not altogether false. . . for the wrinkles in every hand submitted plainly spell the word "dupe."” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ce0/ambrose-bierce-140_character_palmistry-n-the-947th-method-of-obtainin_2254020.jpg)
