--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: MINISTER, n. An agent of a higher power…" description: "\"MINISTER, n. An agent of a higher power with a lower responsibility. In diplomacy, an officer sent into a foreign country as the visible embodiment of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/ambrose-bierce-140_agents_minister-n-an-agent-of-a-higher-power-wi_665188.jpg" --- # MINISTER, n. An agent of a higher power with a lower… ![“MINISTER, n. An agent of a higher power with a lower responsibility. In diplomacy, an officer sent into a foreign country as the visible embodiment of his sovereign's hostility.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/ambrose-bierce-140_agents_minister-n-an-agent-of-a-higher-power-wi_665188.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/ambrose-bierce-140_agents_minister-n-an-agent-of-a-higher-power-wi_665188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/ambrose-bierce-140_agents_minister-n-an-agent-of-a-higher-power-wi_665188.jpg) > “MINISTER, n. An agent of a higher power with a lower responsibility. In diplomacy, an officer sent into a foreign country as the visible embodiment of his sovereign's hostility.” [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 a minister as a low-level agent of a hostile sovereign, highlighting the power dynamics of diplomacy. **In simple terms:** Minister is a low-level hostile envoy. Key Takeaway Question authority in diplomatic roles. Themes politics power representation Mood cynical humorous Type satirical political When to use this quote - international negotiations - government appointments - political satire Key Concepts sovereignty diplomacy hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How does satire affect our view of political roles? - What are the real responsibilities of a minister? A Different Perspective The definition is satirical and may oversimplify. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agents/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Diplomacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomacy/) [Diplomacy Officer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomacy-officer-5293061/) [Embodiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embodiment/) [Foreign countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-countries/) [Foreign country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-country/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Higher power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-power/) [Hostility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostility/) [Minister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minister/) [Minister Agent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minister-agent-4077621/) [Ministers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ministers/) [Officers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officers/) [Peacebuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peacebuilding/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility Diplomacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-diplomacy-5293062/) [Sovereign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereign/) [Visible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visible/) ## Related quotes > [Two things are desired in order that intercourse may be had: First, that a minister or agent be allowed to reside at the capital.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/townsend-harris/two-things-are-desired-in-order-that-intercourse-may-be-had-first/) [Townsend Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/townsend-harris/) > [The church must never become a government factory, carrying on a nationalized industry of religion with the people as the bolts and nuts; with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-archer/the-church-must-never-become-a-government-factory-carrying-on-a/) [Glenn Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-archer/) > [If I were to arrive at a foreign country like Czech Republic, I don't have to speak Czech to understand the feeling of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimenez-lai/if-i-were-to-arrive-at-a-foreign-country-like-czech-republic-i-don-t/) [Jimenez Lai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimenez-lai/) > [You cannot expect a foreign country to be more Catholic than the pope for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-diba/you-cannot-expect-a-foreign-country-to-be-more-catholic-than-the-pope/) [Farah Diba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-diba/) > [A foreign country can best be understood through its literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/a-foreign-country-can-best-be-understood-through-its-literature/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [I am a bohemian person. 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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 Agents quotes > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. 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