--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Corporation, n. An ingenious device for…" description: "\"Corporation, n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/ambrose-bierce-140_definition_corporation-n-an-ingenious-device-for-ob_1874448.jpg" --- # Corporation, n. An ingenious device for obtaining… ![“Corporation, n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/ambrose-bierce-140_definition_corporation-n-an-ingenious-device-for-ob_1874448.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/ambrose-bierce-140_definition_corporation-n-an-ingenious-device-for-ob_1874448.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/ambrose-bierce-140_definition_corporation-n-an-ingenious-device-for-ob_1874448.jpg) > “Corporation, n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility.” [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. Corporations are structured to generate profit while shielding individuals from accountability. **In simple terms:** Companies profit without personal responsibility. Key Takeaway Beware of hidden liabilities. Themes corporate power responsibility ethics Mood cynical critical Type satirical commentary When to use this quote - business decisions - investment choices - policy making - consumer advocacy Key Concepts capitalism legal shields moral hazard Questions to Reflect On - How does personal accountability affect corporate behavior? - Can profit be pursued ethically? A Different Perspective Profit motives can conflict with social good. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corporation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporation/) [Corporation Ingenious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporation-ingenious-2607548/) [Definition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Individual Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-profit-2607550/) [Individual responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-responsibility/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Profit Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit-individual-2607549/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining profit without individual responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/corporation-an-ingenious-device-for-obtaining-profit-without/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TRUST, n. In American politics, a large corporation composed in greater part of thrifty working men, widows of small means, orphans in the care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/trust-n-in-american-politics-a-large-corporation-composed-in-greater/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [art, n. This word has no definition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/art-n-this-word-has-no-definition/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [FORCE, n. "Force is but might," the teacher said p/ "That definition's just."/ The boy said naught but throught instead,/ Remembering his pounded head:/…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/force-n-force-is-but-might-the-teacher-said-p-that-definition-s-just/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“SAINT, n. A dead sinner revised and edited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/saint-n-a-dead-sinner-revised-and-edited/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“ Pray, v. To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner, confessedly unworthy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/pray-v-to-ask-that-the-laws-of-the-universe-be-annulled-in-behalf-of/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Individual responsibility, hard work, paying attention in school, faith, family all these things are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-watts/individual-responsibility-hard-work-paying-attention-in-school-faith/) [J. C. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-watts/) > [You go into a community and they will vote 80 percent to 20 percent in favor of a tougher Clean Air Act, but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/you-go-into-a-community-and-they-will-vote-80-percent-to-20-percent/) [William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/) > [“It may sound reactionary, I know. But we can all feel it. We've changed the way we think of ourselves as citizens. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/it-may-sound-reactionary-i-know-but-we-can-all-feel-it-we-ve-changed/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Thomas Sowell, among many others, has articulated the power of individual responsibility as an antidote to black poverty for over 40 years. Black thinkers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/thomas-sowell-among-many-others-has-articulated-the-power-of/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [“What our generation is in danger of forgetting is not only that morals are of necessity a phenomenon of individual conduct but also that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-hayek/what-our-generation-is-in-danger-of-forgetting-is-not-only-that/) [F. A. Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-a-hayek/) > [The Bible is a book of faith, and a book of doctrine, and a book of religion, of special revelation from God; but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/the-bible-is-a-book-of-faith-and-a-book-of-doctrine-and-a-book-of/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“Each and every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bears a personal responsibility to learn and live the truths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/each-and-every-member-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [Nothing strengthens the judgment and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/nothing-strengthens-the-judgment-and-quickens-the-conscience-like/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Nations are beginning to look to some vague organization, some nebulous course of humanity, to pay their bills and tell them what to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/nations-are-beginning-to-look-to-some-vague-organization-some/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) ## 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 Corporation quotes > [It makes no sense to talk of the social obligations of the corporation without reference to its economic obligations. The two are intertwined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-r-raymond/it-makes-no-sense-to-talk-of-the-social-obligations-of-the/) [Lee R. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-r-raymond/) > [The corporation is not an independent "person" with its own rights, needs, and desires that regulators must respect. It is a state created tool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-bakan/the-corporation-is-not-an-independent-person-with-its-own-rights/) [Joel Bakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-bakan/) > [The 'Occupy' movement seems to have found a central theme to its 2012 movement around overturning 'the corporation as a person,' and some legislators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/the-occupy-movement-seems-to-have-found-a-central-theme-to-its-2012/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [“It’s so easy to lose faith and become lost in all of the politics of the world. That’s why we need the arts. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/it-s-so-easy-to-lose-faith-and-become-lost-in-all-of-the-politics-of/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [To equate a corporation with a person is a travesty of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/to-equate-a-corporation-with-a-person-is-a-travesty-of-justice/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no soul to be damned, and nobody to be kicked?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-have-a-conscience-when-it-has-no/) [Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/) > [“a big corporation will destroy your life, your hopes and your dreams accidentally, without even noticing, and still won’t give a damn afterwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-h-thomson/a-big-corporation-will-destroy-your-life-your-hopes-and-your-dreams/) [L.H. Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-h-thomson/) > [A corporation has no soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/a-corporation-has-no-soul/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [A record company used to be a very good thing, but they ended up soul-destroyingly trapping people in the accounting department. And you couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/a-record-company-used-to-be-a-very-good-thing-but-they-ended-up-soul/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [I used the aspects of being a woman to my advantage, but I worked for myself, not a big corporation, so I was lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-used-the-aspects-of-being-a-woman-to-my-advantage-but-i-worked-for/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [I don't think any business has to give up legal protections in order to simplify. The main consideration is that whatever protection, rights and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-siegel/i-don-t-think-any-business-has-to-give-up-legal-protections-in-order/) [Alan Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-siegel/) > [The definition of fascism is The marriage of corporation and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/the-definition-of-fascism-is-the-marriage-of-corporation-and-state/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [For better or for worse, our company (The News Corporation Ltd.) is a reflection of my thinking, my character, my values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/for-better-or-for-worse-our-company-the-news-corporation-ltd-is-a/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [I've been working with them for a couple years and a couple of projects. Essentially Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is the chief litigator for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dean-anderson/i-ve-been-working-with-them-for-a-couple-years-and-a-couple-of/) [Richard Dean Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dean-anderson/) > [I've always found a way to make my way, and now I've had the fortune of being hired by a great company - Chrysler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/i-ve-always-found-a-way-to-make-my-way-and-now-i-ve-had-the-fortune/) [Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/) [Browse all 205 Corporation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Corporation, n. 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