--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: EXPOSTULATION, n. One of the many methods…" description: "\"EXPOSTULATION, n. One of the many methods by which fools prefer to lose their friends.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/ambrose-bierce-140_fool_expostulation-n-one-of-the-many-methods_1172347.jpg" --- # EXPOSTULATION, n. One of the many methods by which fools… ![“EXPOSTULATION, n. One of the many methods by which fools prefer to lose their friends.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/ambrose-bierce-140_fool_expostulation-n-one-of-the-many-methods_1172347.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/ambrose-bierce-140_fool_expostulation-n-one-of-the-many-methods_1172347.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/853/ambrose-bierce-140_fool_expostulation-n-one-of-the-many-methods_1172347.jpg) > “EXPOSTULATION, n. One of the many methods by which fools prefer to lose their friends.” [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. Expostulation is a pretentious argument that often alienates others, showing how foolishness can damage friendships. **In simple terms:** Fancy arguments can ruin friendships. Key Takeaway Avoid needless debates that harm relationships. Themes communication friendship foolishness argument social dynamics Mood irritated reflective Type cautionary observational When to use this quote - political debates - online forums - workplace meetings - family discussions - social media comments Key Concepts egotism self‑deception social friction Questions to Reflect On - Do you prioritize being right over maintaining relationships? - How can humility improve your discussions? A Different Perspective May be used to mask insecurity rather than seek truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expostulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expostulation-3403989/) [Expostulation Methods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expostulation-methods-3403990/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose/) [Lose Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-friends/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [Method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/method/) [Methods Fools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/methods-fools-3403991/) ## Related quotes > [ELEGY, n. A composition in verse, in which, without employing any of the methods of humor, the writer aims to produce in the reader's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/elegy-n-a-composition-in-verse-in-which-without-employing-any-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [In life, we never lose friends we only get to know who the true ones are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-kid/in-life-we-never-lose-friends-we-only-get-to-know-who-the-true-ones/) [Ace Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-kid/) > [The sad truth is that there are some people who will only be there for you as long as you have something they need.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-john-maxwell/the-sad-truth-is-that-there-are-some-people-who-will-only-be-there/) [Darren John Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-john-maxwell/) > [We don't lose friends we just figure out which ones are real friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-don-t-lose-friends-we-just-figure-out-which-ones-are-real-friends/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you think only of yourself, if you forget the rights and well-being of others, or, worse still, if you exploit others, ultimately you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/if-you-think-only-of-yourself-if-you-forget-the-rights-and-well-being/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [As we grow up we don't lose friends, we just realize who the true ones are. So stop believing the liars, trusting the backstabbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/as-we-grow-up-we-don-t-lose-friends-we-just-realize-who-the-true-ones/) [Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/) > [We never lose friends. We just discover who our real friends are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-never-lose-friends-we-just-discover-who-our-real-friends-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't lose friends, you just find out who your real ones are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-ramkran/you-don-t-lose-friends-you-just-find-out-who-your-real-ones-are/) [Christine Ramkran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-ramkran/) > [Sometimes you lose some friends and you get new ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-charles-de-castelbajac/sometimes-you-lose-some-friends-and-you-get-new-ones/) [Jean-Charles de Castelbajac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-charles-de-castelbajac/) > [The closer I get to victory in my life, the more friends I will lose. Some love me when I'm average because it makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/the-closer-i-get-to-victory-in-my-life-the-more-friends-i-will-lose/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [In life we don't lose friends, we just learn who true friends are!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-life-we-don-t-lose-friends-we-just-learn-who-true-friends-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We're supposed to lose our friends to time, at an age when we're ready to agree to the terms of having lived a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/we-re-supposed-to-lose-our-friends-to-time-at-an-age-when-we-re-ready/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [I lose friends...but I thank God they are no longer in my life because NOW I know who my TRUE friends are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-lose-friends-but-i-thank-god-they-are-no-longer-in-my-life-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you get old the worst thing is you lose so many friends. Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne. People who I loved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-you-get-old-the-worst-thing-is-you-lose-so-many-friends-burt/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [There are a ton of things that go with getting older. You lose friends you love, family you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-redman/there-are-a-ton-of-things-that-go-with-getting-older-you-lose-friends/) [Amanda Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-redman/) ## 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 Fool quotes > [Do I look like a fool to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/do-i-look-like-a-fool-to-you/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“Not wise, perhaps, to be rude to the Pope's favorite son, but my viper tongue still required a fool now and then on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-quinn/not-wise-perhaps-to-be-rude-to-the-pope-s-favorite-son-but-my-viper/) [Kate Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-quinn/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [A fool and his money get a lot of publicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-bernstein/a-fool-and-his-money-get-a-lot-of-publicity/) [Al Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-bernstein/) > [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/) [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) > [Every man must wear out at least one pair of fools shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/every-man-must-wear-out-at-least-one-pair-of-fools-shoes/) [Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/) > [If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wc-fields/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-try-try-again-then-quit-no-use-being-a/) [WC Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wc-fields/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [I'd be a fool to be in this for the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hinn/i-d-be-a-fool-to-be-in-this-for-the-money/) [Benny Hinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hinn/) > [It is a fool of a shepherd who culls his dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-smith/it-is-a-fool-of-a-shepherd-who-culls-his-dogs/) [Jefferson Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-smith/) > [Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prefer-to-be-defeated-in-the-presence-of-the-wise-than-to-excel-among/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A mistake doesnt make you a fool, but denying it surely makes you one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-mistake-doesnt-make-you-a-fool-but-denying-it-surely-makes-you-one/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) [Browse all 5,535 Fool quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "EXPOSTULATION, n. 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