--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: CUNNING, n. The faculty that…" description: "\"CUNNING, n. The faculty that distinguishes a weak animal or person from a strong one. It brings its possessor much mental satisfaction and great materi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/ambrose-bierce-140_adversity_cunning-n-the-faculty-that-distinguishes_1519195.jpg" --- # CUNNING, n. The faculty that distinguishes a weak animal… ![“CUNNING, n. The faculty that distinguishes a weak animal or person from a strong one. It brings its possessor much mental satisfaction and great material adversity. An Italian proverb says: "The furrier gets the skins of more foxes than asses."” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/ambrose-bierce-140_adversity_cunning-n-the-faculty-that-distinguishes_1519195.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/ambrose-bierce-140_adversity_cunning-n-the-faculty-that-distinguishes_1519195.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/ambrose-bierce-140_adversity_cunning-n-the-faculty-that-distinguishes_1519195.jpg) > “CUNNING, n. The faculty that distinguishes a weak animal or person from a strong one. It brings its possessor much mental satisfaction and great material adversity. An Italian proverb says: "The furrier gets the skins of more foxes than asses."” [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. Cunning is the ability to turn adversity into advantage, often at others’ expense. **In simple terms:** Cunning exploits hardship for gain. Key Takeaway Use intelligence ethically. Themes strategy power survival Mood cynical analytical Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - business negotiations - political campaigns - personal relationships Key Concepts manipulation ethical dilemmas resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - When is cunning justified? - How does it affect long‑term relationships? A Different Perspective Cunning can erode trust and morale. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Ass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ass/) [Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning/) [Cunning Faculty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cunning-faculty-5610896/) [Faculty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faculty/) [Foxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foxes/) [Foxes Asses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foxes-asses-1987371/) [Italian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italian/) [Italian proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italian-proverb/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proverb/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) [Skins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skins/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/) ## Related quotes > [The furrier gets the skins of more foxes than asses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/the-furrier-gets-the-skins-of-more-foxes-than-asses/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. —Italian proverb I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-healey/a-candle-loses-nothing-by-lighting-another-candle-italian-proverb-i/) [Jane Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-healey/) > [There is an Italian proverb which saith, From my enemy let me defend myself; but from a pretensed friend Lord deliver me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/there-is-an-italian-proverb-which-saith-from-my-enemy-let-me-defend/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [“Count your nights by stars, not by shadows; count your life with smiles, not by tears. —Italian proverb In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-healey/count-your-nights-by-stars-not-by-shadows-count-your-life-with-smiles/) [Jane Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-healey/) > [“Melody is the essence of music. I compare a good melodist to a fine racer, and counterpointists to hack post-horses; therefore be advised, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/melody-is-the-essence-of-music-i-compare-a-good-melodist-to-a-fine/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [“The heart sees farther than the head. —Italian proverb Ada,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-healey/the-heart-sees-farther-than-the-head-italian-proverb-ada/) [Jane Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-healey/) > [“At the table, one does not grow old. —Italian proverb Thanksgiving”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-healey/at-the-table-one-does-not-grow-old-italian-proverb-thanksgiving/) [Jane Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-healey/) > [“A good mother is worth a hundred teachers. —Italian proverb Thanksgiving”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-healey/a-good-mother-is-worth-a-hundred-teachers-italian-proverb-thanksgiving/) [Jane Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-healey/) > [“Love, a cough, and smoke are hard to hide. —Italian proverb I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-healey/love-a-cough-and-smoke-are-hard-to-hide-italian-proverb-i/) [Jane Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-healey/) > [The cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-cunning-of-the-fox-is-as-murderous-as-the-violence-of-the-wolf/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The fox is very cunning, but he is more cunning who catches the fox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-calder-n-de-la-barca/the-fox-is-very-cunning-but-he-is-more-cunning-who-catches-the-fox/) [Pedro Calderon de la Barca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-calder-n-de-la-barca/) > [What I wanted was to die among strangers, untroubled, beneath a cloudless sky. And yet my desire differed from the sentiments of that ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/what-i-wanted-was-to-die-among-strangers-untroubled-beneath-a/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [And many kinds of creatures must have died, Unable to plant out new sprouts of life. For whatever you see that lives and breathes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/and-many-kinds-of-creatures-must-have-died-unable-to-plant-out-new/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [They treat me like a fox, a cunning fellow (Schlaukopf) of the first rank. But the truth is that with a gentleman I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/they-treat-me-like-a-fox-a-cunning-fellow-schlaukopf-of-the-first/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [If the lion was advised by the fox, he would be cunning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/if-the-lion-was-advised-by-the-fox-he-would-be-cunning/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) ## 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 Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) [S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "CUNNING, n. The faculty that distinguishes a weak animal or person from a strong one. It brings its possessor much mental satisfaction and great material adversity. 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