--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An auctioneer is a man who proclaims with…" description: "\"An auctioneer is a man who proclaims with a hammer that he has picked a pocket with his tongue.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/ambrose-bierce-140_business_an-auctioneer-is-a-man-who-proclaims-wit_3085270.jpg" --- # An auctioneer is a man who proclaims with a hammer that he… ![“An auctioneer is a man who proclaims with a hammer that he has picked a pocket with his tongue.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/ambrose-bierce-140_business_an-auctioneer-is-a-man-who-proclaims-wit_3085270.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/ambrose-bierce-140_business_an-auctioneer-is-a-man-who-proclaims-wit_3085270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/ambrose-bierce-140_business_an-auctioneer-is-a-man-who-proclaims-wit_3085270.jpg) > “An auctioneer is a man who proclaims with a hammer that he has picked a pocket with his tongue.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Commerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commerce/) [E commerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/e-commerce/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [LECTURER, n. One with his hand in your pocket, his tongue in your ear and his faith in your patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/lecturer-n-one-with-his-hand-in-your-pocket-his-tongue-in-your-ear/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I've never known an auctioneer to lie unless it was absolutely necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/i-ve-never-known-an-auctioneer-to-lie-unless-it-was-absolutely/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Auctions typically are an opportunity for you to be able to acquire what you're looking for at a lower price; typically, the auctioneer sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gilkes/auctions-typically-are-an-opportunity-for-you-to-be-able-to-acquire/) [Alexander Gilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gilkes/) > [An auctioneer is such a uniquely American thing. I keep thinking in my head, perhaps it's not as American as I think, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/an-auctioneer-is-such-a-uniquely-american-thing-i-keep-thinking-in-my/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [When the slave auctioneer asked in what he was proficient, he replied, "In ruling people."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/when-the-slave-auctioneer-asked-in-what-he-was-proficient-he-replied/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [“Hide yourself under a bushel quickly, for if your real usefulness were known to the world you would soon be knocked down to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/hide-yourself-under-a-bushel-quickly-for-if-your-real-usefulness-were/) [Kakuzō Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [A great friend and mentor, Simon de Pury, invited me to be auctioneer at Phillips de Pury, which was a great honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gilkes/a-great-friend-and-mentor-simon-de-pury-invited-me-to-be-auctioneer/) [Alexander Gilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gilkes/) > [It is only an auctioneer who can equally and impartially admire all schools of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-only-an-auctioneer-who-can-equally-and-impartially-admire-all/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The auctioneer is talking for both people, and that's the big revelation about, 'Oh, that's what they're doing.' They're just doing it very fast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/the-auctioneer-is-talking-for-both-people-and-that-s-the-big/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [“It is only an auctioneer who should admire all schools of art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-only-an-auctioneer-who-should-admire-all-schools-of-art/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“I regret to say that we of the FBI are powerless to act in cases of oral-genital intimacy, unless it has in some way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/i-regret-to-say-that-we-of-the-fbi-are-powerless-to-act-in-cases-of/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Yes, e-commerce is a strange situation for an old guy like me. You can buy a TV online, OK, but to buy a dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-azria/yes-e-commerce-is-a-strange-situation-for-an-old-guy-like-me-you-can/) [Max Azria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-azria/) > [“But if you will not take this Counsel, and persist in thinking a Commerce with the Sex inevitable, then I repeat my former Advice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-if-you-will-not-take-this-counsel-and-persist-in-thinking-a/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Mobile is going to change e-commerce as much as e-commerce has changed brick and mortar retailers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/mobile-is-going-to-change-e-commerce-as-much-as-e-commerce-has/) [Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/) > [Customers want a broad assortment, especially with e-commerce. If you pull up your mobile app to look for something at Walmart, we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/customers-want-a-broad-assortment-especially-with-e-commerce-if-you/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]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,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An auctioneer is a man who proclaims with a hammer that he has picked a pocket with his tongue.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/an-auctioneer-is-a-man-who-proclaims-with-a-hammer-that-he-has-picked/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/an-auctioneer-is-a-man-who-proclaims-with-a-hammer-that-he-has-picked/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/ambrose-bierce-140_business_an-auctioneer-is-a-man-who-proclaims-wit_3085270.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/ambrose-bierce-140_business_an-auctioneer-is-a-man-who-proclaims-wit_3085270.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/ambrose-bierce-140_business_an-auctioneer-is-a-man-who-proclaims-wit_3085270.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An auctioneer is a man who proclaims with a hammer that he has picked a pocket with his tongue.” — Ambrose Bierce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ambrose Bierce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "An auctioneer is a man who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/an-auctioneer-is-a-man-who-proclaims-with-a-hammer-that-he-has-picked/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/an-auctioneer-is-a-man-who-proclaims-with-a-hammer-that-he-has-picked/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```