--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ECCENTRICITY, n. A method of distinction…" description: "\"ECCENTRICITY, n. A method of distinction so cheap that fools employ it to accentuate their incapacity.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41d/ambrose-bierce-140_accentuate_eccentricity-n-a-method-of-distinction-s_2056799.jpg" --- # ECCENTRICITY, n. A method of distinction so cheap that… ![“ECCENTRICITY, n. A method of distinction so cheap that fools employ it to accentuate their incapacity.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41d/ambrose-bierce-140_accentuate_eccentricity-n-a-method-of-distinction-s_2056799.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41d/ambrose-bierce-140_accentuate_eccentricity-n-a-method-of-distinction-s_2056799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41d/ambrose-bierce-140_accentuate_eccentricity-n-a-method-of-distinction-s_2056799.jpg) > “ECCENTRICITY, n. A method of distinction so cheap that fools employ it to accentuate their incapacity.” [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. He defines eccentricity as a cheap way to highlight one's own incompetence, suggesting that flamboyant quirks can mask underlying deficiencies. **In simple terms:** Eccentricity can hide incompetence. Key Takeaway Beware using quirks to cover weaknesses. Themes conformity self‑awareness authenticity critique pride Mood critical ironic Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - job interviews - social media profiles - team dynamics - leadership roles Key Concepts social signaling self‑deception identity performance Questions to Reflect On - Do your quirks serve a purpose or mask a flaw? - How can authenticity be balanced with individuality? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on uniqueness may alienate others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accentuate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accentuate/) [Accentuate Incapacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accentuate-incapacity-3903652/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Eccentricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eccentricity/) [Eccentricity Method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eccentricity-method-3903654/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools/) [Fools Employ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fools-employ-3903653/) [Incapacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapacity/) [Method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/method/) ## Related quotes > [Worms'-Meat, n. The finished product of which we are the raw material. The contents of the Taj Mahal, the Tombeau Napoleon and the Granitarium.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/worms-meat-n-the-finished-product-of-which-we-are-the-raw-material/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Logic, n. The art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the limitations and incapacities of the human misunderstanding. The basic of logic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/logic-n-the-art-of-thinking-and-reasoning-in-strict-accordance-with/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Everyone's hip to the fact that we all do things to accentuate our looks - and it's much more accepted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyan-douglas/everyone-s-hip-to-the-fact-that-we-all-do-things-to-accentuate-our/) [Kyan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyan-douglas/) > [In the etheric body are centered the forces animating man's physical vehicle, so disease is evidenced in the etheric before it manifests in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-heline/in-the-etheric-body-are-centered-the-forces-animating-man-s-physical/) [Corinne Heline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-heline/) > [I think my philosophy in music has been to accentuate the positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-love/i-think-my-philosophy-in-music-has-been-to-accentuate-the-positive/) [Mike Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-love/) > [I love Dior. I've been wearing some of the really beautiful structured pieces - I love a deep neck and how it accentuates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-dior-i-ve-been-wearing-some-of-the-really-beautiful-structured/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [ Even though the play \[ The Best Man\] was written a long time ago, the characters seem modern and their struggles to make ends… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hart/even-though-the-play-the-best-man-was-written-a-long-time-ago-the/) [Chris Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hart/) > [“READ- Render Educational Accentuated Discourse”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/read-render-educational-accentuated-discourse/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [I accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. That is the timeless thing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-kasem/i-accentuate-the-positive-and-eliminate-the-negative-that-is-the/) [Casey Kasem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-kasem/) > [Find a positive lesson and positive reason for all of your personal relationships. Accentuate the blessings and knowledge gained from each.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/find-a-positive-lesson-and-positive-reason-for-all-of-your-personal/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [I do not discriminate about size. I design dresses to accentuate a woman's positives, whether you are a size 0 or a size 3X.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadashi-shoji/i-do-not-discriminate-about-size-i-design-dresses-to-accentuate-a/) [Tadashi Shoji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadashi-shoji/) > [“It was, to reiterate, to stress, to accentuate the point, to leave no doubt, hot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-maarten-troost/it-was-to-reiterate-to-stress-to-accentuate-the-point-to-leave-no/) [J. Maarten Troost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-maarten-troost/) > [Everyone has a best feature, so find clothes and accessories to accentuate those, whether it’s your shoulders or your long legs!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/everyone-has-a-best-feature-so-find-clothes-and-accessories-to/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [Not to be vain, but I have nice long legs, so I like to accentuate them. Find what part of your body you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khloe-kardashian/not-to-be-vain-but-i-have-nice-long-legs-so-i-like-to-accentuate-them/) [Khloe Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khloe-kardashian/) > [Not only does political coverage often lose the signal—it frequently accentuates the noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/not-only-does-political-coverage-often-lose-the-signal-it-frequently/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) ## 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 Accentuate quotes > [Not only does political coverage often lose the signal—it frequently accentuates the noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/not-only-does-political-coverage-often-lose-the-signal-it-frequently/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [Not to be vain, but I have nice long legs, so I like to accentuate them. Find what part of your body you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khloe-kardashian/not-to-be-vain-but-i-have-nice-long-legs-so-i-like-to-accentuate-them/) [Khloe Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khloe-kardashian/) > [Everyone has a best feature, so find clothes and accessories to accentuate those, whether it’s your shoulders or your long legs!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/everyone-has-a-best-feature-so-find-clothes-and-accessories-to/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [Worms'-Meat, n. The finished product of which we are the raw material. The contents of the Taj Mahal, the Tombeau Napoleon and the Granitarium.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/worms-meat-n-the-finished-product-of-which-we-are-the-raw-material/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“It was, to reiterate, to stress, to accentuate the point, to leave no doubt, hot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-maarten-troost/it-was-to-reiterate-to-stress-to-accentuate-the-point-to-leave-no/) [J. Maarten Troost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-maarten-troost/) > [I do not discriminate about size. I design dresses to accentuate a woman's positives, whether you are a size 0 or a size 3X.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadashi-shoji/i-do-not-discriminate-about-size-i-design-dresses-to-accentuate-a/) [Tadashi Shoji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadashi-shoji/) > [Find a positive lesson and positive reason for all of your personal relationships. Accentuate the blessings and knowledge gained from each.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/find-a-positive-lesson-and-positive-reason-for-all-of-your-personal/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [I accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. That is the timeless thing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-kasem/i-accentuate-the-positive-and-eliminate-the-negative-that-is-the/) [Casey Kasem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-kasem/) > [“READ- Render Educational Accentuated Discourse”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/read-render-educational-accentuated-discourse/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [ Even though the play \[ The Best Man\] was written a long time ago, the characters seem modern and their struggles to make ends… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hart/even-though-the-play-the-best-man-was-written-a-long-time-ago-the/) [Chris Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hart/) > [I love Dior. I've been wearing some of the really beautiful structured pieces - I love a deep neck and how it accentuates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-dior-i-ve-been-wearing-some-of-the-really-beautiful-structured/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [I think my philosophy in music has been to accentuate the positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-love/i-think-my-philosophy-in-music-has-been-to-accentuate-the-positive/) [Mike Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-love/) > [In the etheric body are centered the forces animating man's physical vehicle, so disease is evidenced in the etheric before it manifests in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-heline/in-the-etheric-body-are-centered-the-forces-animating-man-s-physical/) [Corinne Heline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-heline/) > [Everyone's hip to the fact that we all do things to accentuate our looks - and it's much more accepted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyan-douglas/everyone-s-hip-to-the-fact-that-we-all-do-things-to-accentuate-our/) [Kyan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyan-douglas/) > [“Accentuate the positive - eliminate the negative. And only the negative.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-case/accentuate-the-positive-eliminate-the-negative-and-only-the-negative/) [John Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-case/) [Browse all 74 Accentuate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accentuate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "ECCENTRICITY, n. 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