--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: GUNPOWDER, n. An agency employed by…" description: "\"GUNPOWDER, n. An agency employed by civilized nations for the settlement of disputes which might become troublesome if left unadjusted.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/ambrose-bierce-140_agency_gunpowder-n-an-agency-employed-by-civili_1110485.jpg" --- # GUNPOWDER, n. An agency employed by civilized nations for… ![“GUNPOWDER, n. An agency employed by civilized nations for the settlement of disputes which might become troublesome if left unadjusted.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/ambrose-bierce-140_agency_gunpowder-n-an-agency-employed-by-civili_1110485.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/ambrose-bierce-140_agency_gunpowder-n-an-agency-employed-by-civili_1110485.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/ambrose-bierce-140_agency_gunpowder-n-an-agency-employed-by-civili_1110485.jpg) > “GUNPOWDER, n. An agency employed by civilized nations for the settlement of disputes which might become troublesome if left unadjusted.” [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. War is described as a bureaucratic tool used by nations to manage conflicts before they become unmanageable. **In simple terms:** War is a civilizing agency. Key Takeaway Question the motives behind conflict resolution. Themes war bureaucracy conflict resolution Mood skeptical ironic Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - policy analysis - diplomacy - historical study - peace activism Key Concepts political satire military ethics Questions to Reflect On - What does this say about the nature of power? - Can war ever be truly civilized? A Different Perspective The definition is cynical and may oversimplify complex geopolitics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilized nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized-nations/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) ## Related quotes > [GUNPOWDER, n. An agency employed by civilized nations for the settlement of disputes which might become troublesome if left unadjusted. By most writers the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/gunpowder-n-an-agency-employed-by-civilized-nations-for-the-2/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [ Perhaps my dynamite plants will put an end to war sooner than your \[pacifist\] congresses. On the day two army corps can annihilate each… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-nobel/perhaps-my-dynamite-plants-will-put-an-end-to-war-sooner-than-your/) [Alfred Nobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-nobel/) > [Straying off course is not recognized as a capital crime by civilized nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-kirkpatrick/straying-off-course-is-not-recognized-as-a-capital-crime-by-civilized/) [Jeane Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-kirkpatrick/) > [There is as yet no civilized society, but only a society in the process of becoming civilized. There is as yet no civilized nation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/there-is-as-yet-no-civilized-society-but-only-a-society-in-the/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [“In the savage horde the most vagabond, as well as in the most civilized nations of Europe, man is only what he is made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-itard/in-the-savage-horde-the-most-vagabond-as-well-as-in-the-most/) Jean Itard > [“So much barbarism, however, still remains in the transactions of most civilized nations, that almost all independent countries choose to assert their nationality by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/so-much-barbarism-however-still-remains-in-the-transactions-of-most/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Judaism is not a passive religion, but an active life factor which has coalesced with the national consciousness into one organic whole. 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It is the ligament which holds civilized beings and civilized nations together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/justice-sir-is-the-great-interest-of-man-on-earth-it-is-the-ligament/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [As the war was just in its origin and necessary and noble in its objects, we can reflect with a proud satisfaction that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/as-the-war-was-just-in-its-origin-and-necessary-and-noble-in-its/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Civilized nations are ones that simply can't endure wrongs or injustice except at home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-anderson/civilized-nations-are-ones-that-simply-can-t-endure-wrongs-or/) Joseph Anderson ## 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. 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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 Agency quotes > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. 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