--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: IMPOSTOR n. A rival aspirant to public…" description: "\"IMPOSTOR n. A rival aspirant to public honors.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/ambrose-bierce-140_honor_impostor-n-a-rival-aspirant-to-public-ho_1061506.jpg" --- # IMPOSTOR n. A rival aspirant to public honors. ![“IMPOSTOR n. A rival aspirant to public honors.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/ambrose-bierce-140_honor_impostor-n-a-rival-aspirant-to-public-ho_1061506.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/ambrose-bierce-140_honor_impostor-n-a-rival-aspirant-to-public-ho_1061506.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/ambrose-bierce-140_honor_impostor-n-a-rival-aspirant-to-public-ho_1061506.jpg) > “IMPOSTOR n. A rival aspirant to public honors.” [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. An impostor is someone who competes for recognition without genuine merit. **In simple terms:** A fake competitor seeking fame. Key Takeaway Beware of false pretenders. Themes honesty competition authenticity Mood skeptical cautious Type observational critical When to use this quote - job interviews - political campaigns - academic admissions - business negotiations Key Concepts identity social status perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify someone's credentials? - What signs reveal true competence? A Different Perspective Even impostors can be persuasive, making detection hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Impostor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impostor/) [Impostor Rival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impostor-rival-2594409/) [Public Honors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-honors-1619836/) [Rival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rival/) [Rival Aspirant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rival-aspirant-2594410/) [Rivals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivals/) ## Related quotes > [NOTORIETY, n. The fame of one's competitor for public honors. The kind of renown most accessible and acceptable to mediocrity. A Jacob's-ladder leading to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/notoriety-n-the-fame-of-one-s-competitor-for-public-honors-the-kind/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Life is art's rival and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/life-is-art-s-rival-and-vice-versa/) [Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/) > [Well, the biggest rival I had in my career was me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/well-the-biggest-rival-i-had-in-my-career-was-me/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Study the processes and methods of those who are better at it than you... there's someone who knows something you don't, who has honed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-genn/study-the-processes-and-methods-of-those-who-are-better-at-it-than/) [Sara Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-genn/) > [As African economies boom and businesses are created, one of the big questions this growth raises is that of third-level education: how can Africa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-attias/as-african-economies-boom-and-businesses-are-created-one-of-the-big/) [Richard Attias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-attias/) > [Bosh. I find a rival - but no, I won't flatter myself that Tecumseh Fox would consider himself a rival of Dol Bonner -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/bosh-i-find-a-rival-but-no-i-won-t-flatter-myself-that-tecumseh-fox/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [Any man, however blase or depraved, finds his love kindled anew when he sees himself threatened by a rival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/any-man-however-blase-or-depraved-finds-his-love-kindled-anew-when-he/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The good is the greatest rival of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-l-mcclung/the-good-is-the-greatest-rival-of-the-best/) [Nellie L. McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-l-mcclung/) > [No matter how strong the rival, the just will always win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mas-oyama/no-matter-how-strong-the-rival-the-just-will-always-win/) [Mas Oyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mas-oyama/) > [Either you have a rival or you don't. If you have one, you must please in order to be preferred to him, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-choderlos-de-laclos/either-you-have-a-rival-or-you-don-t-if-you-have-one-you-must-please/) [Pierre Choderlos de Laclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-choderlos-de-laclos/) > [I have never considered myself a poet. Therefore, I am not a rival of anyone, and I do not consider anybody my rival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-iqbal/i-have-never-considered-myself-a-poet-therefore-i-am-not-a-rival-of/) [Muhammad Iqbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-iqbal/) > [The artist is not the transcriber of the world, he is its rival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-malraux/the-artist-is-not-the-transcriber-of-the-world-he-is-its-rival/) [Andre Malraux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-malraux/) > [How much in love with himself, and that too without a rival!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/how-much-in-love-with-himself-and-that-too-without-a-rival/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [There are people who, on meeting a successful rival, no matter in what, are at once disposed to turn their backs on everything good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/there-are-people-who-on-meeting-a-successful-rival-no-matter-in-what/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [-He's his rival in love!\*inuyasha hits shippo\*why'd you do that!? shippo,if you bug inuyasha you'll only feel his fist.-Miroku+shippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumiko-takahashi/he-s-his-rival-in-love-inuyasha-hits-shippo-why-d-you-do-that-shippo/) [Rumiko Takahashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumiko-takahashi/) ## 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 Honor quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [This is what I say about the scorn of the media elite: I wear their scorn as a badge of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/this-is-what-i-say-about-the-scorn-of-the-media-elite-i-wear-their/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [Just being in a video game is an honor, and being on the cover, I can't really describe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-judge/just-being-in-a-video-game-is-an-honor-and-being-on-the-cover-i-can-t/) [Aaron Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-judge/) > [Spade! Thou art a tool of honor in my hands. I press thee, through a yielding soil, with pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/spade-thou-art-a-tool-of-honor-in-my-hands-i-press-thee-through-a/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [“He put his forehead against hers. “Alannah, my heart is yours.” He said softly. “And yet, I must hand it over to someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-morin/he-put-his-forehead-against-hers-alannah-my-heart-is-yours-he-said/) [B.C. Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-morin/) > [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There is honor between bitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/there-is-honor-between-bitches/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [I know my idea of beauty isn't what most people's is, and the fact that I'm getting the opportunity to show my beauty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-osbourne/i-know-my-idea-of-beauty-isn-t-what-most-people-s-is-and-the-fact/) [Kelly Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-osbourne/) [Browse all 5,016 Honor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "IMPOSTOR n. A rival aspirant to public honors.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/impostor-n-a-rival-aspirant-to-public-honors/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Honor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/impostor-n-a-rival-aspirant-to-public-honors/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/ambrose-bierce-140_honor_impostor-n-a-rival-aspirant-to-public-ho_1061506.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/ambrose-bierce-140_honor_impostor-n-a-rival-aspirant-to-public-ho_1061506.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/187/ambrose-bierce-140_honor_impostor-n-a-rival-aspirant-to-public-ho_1061506.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“IMPOSTOR n. A rival aspirant to public honors.” — Ambrose Bierce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ambrose Bierce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "IMPOSTOR n. A rival aspirant to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/impostor-n-a-rival-aspirant-to-public-honors/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/impostor-n-a-rival-aspirant-to-public-honors/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```