--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: NOBLEMAN, n. Nature's provision for…" description: "\"NOBLEMAN, n. Nature's provision for wealthy American minds ambitious to incur social distinction and suffer high life.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31b/ambrose-bierce-140_ambitious_nobleman-n-nature-s-provision-for-wealth_1445853.jpg" --- # NOBLEMAN, n. Nature's provision for wealthy American minds… ![“NOBLEMAN, n. Nature's provision for wealthy American minds ambitious to incur social distinction and suffer high life.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31b/ambrose-bierce-140_ambitious_nobleman-n-nature-s-provision-for-wealth_1445853.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31b/ambrose-bierce-140_ambitious_nobleman-n-nature-s-provision-for-wealth_1445853.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31b/ambrose-bierce-140_ambitious_nobleman-n-nature-s-provision-for-wealth_1445853.jpg) > “NOBLEMAN, n. Nature's provision for wealthy American minds ambitious to incur social distinction and suffer high life.” [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. A wealthy, ambitious person seeks status and endures hardship as a natural consequence. **In simple terms:** Rich people chase status and suffer. Key Takeaway Recognize the cost of ambition. Themes ambition social status wealth Mood cynical reflective Type satirical observational When to use this quote - career advancement - political ambition - social climbing - philanthropy Key Concepts materialism social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - Is status worth the suffering it brings? - How does ambition shape identity? A Different Perspective Wealth does not guarantee happiness or moral superiority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Noblemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noblemen/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [The office of the prince and that of the writer are defined and assigned as follows: the nobleman gives rank to the written work,the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-office-of-the-prince-and-that-of-the-writer-are-defined-and/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [There is often no material difference between the enjoyment of the highest ranks and those of the rudest stages of society. If the life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-archibald-alison-2nd-baronet/there-is-often-no-material-difference-between-the-enjoyment-of-the/) Sir Archibald Alison, 2nd Baronet > [It was my mustache that landed jobs for me. In those silent-film days it was the mark of a villain. When I realized they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolphe-menjou/it-was-my-mustache-that-landed-jobs-for-me-in-those-silent-film-days/) [Adolphe Menjou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolphe-menjou/) > [I have known a German Prince with more titles than subjects, and a Spanish nobleman with more names than shirts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/i-have-known-a-german-prince-with-more-titles-than-subjects-and-a/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Somebody has said, that a king may make a nobleman but he cannot make a gentleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/somebody-has-said-that-a-king-may-make-a-nobleman-but-he-cannot-make/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The mind makes the nobleman, and uplifts the lowly to high degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-mind-makes-the-nobleman-and-uplifts-the-lowly-to-high-degree/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [I'm an amalgamation of what I've needed to be. Part scholar, part rebel, part nobleman, part Mistborn, and part soldier. Sometimes I don't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-m-an-amalgamation-of-what-i-ve-needed-to-be-part-scholar-part-rebel/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [What is it, in your opinion, to be a great nobleman? It is to be master of several objects that men covet, and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/what-is-it-in-your-opinion-to-be-a-great-nobleman-it-is-to-be-master/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [My son, be worthy of your noble name, worthily borne by your ancestors for over five hundred years. Remember it’s by courage, and courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/my-son-be-worthy-of-your-noble-name-worthily-borne-by-your-ancestors/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [I wanted to be a nobleman; I bought a name and a title... Oh, nothing is impossible with five million a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-sue/i-wanted-to-be-a-nobleman-i-bought-a-name-and-a-title-oh-nothing-is/) [Eugene Sue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-sue/) > [All privileges based on wealth, and all emnity to honest men merely because they are wealthy, are un-American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/all-privileges-based-on-wealth-and-all-emnity-to-honest-men-merely/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I am part of the 1 percent of the 1 percent. By that, I mean that I am fortunate to be a wealthy American,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-tilson/i-am-part-of-the-1-percent-of-the-1-percent-by-that-i-mean-that-i-am/) [Whitney Tilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-tilson/) > [MUSTANG, n. An indocile horse of the western plains. In English society, the American wife of an English nobleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/mustang-n-an-indocile-horse-of-the-western-plains-in-english-society/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [LAP, n. One of the most important organs of the female system - an admirable provision of nature for the repose of infancy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/lap-n-one-of-the-most-important-organs-of-the-female-system-an/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMPROVIDENCE, n. Provision for the needs of to-day from the revenues of to-morrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/improvidence-n-provision-for-the-needs-of-to-day-from-the-revenues-of/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## 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 Ambitious quotes > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [I want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [“Getting rich is easy, staying rich is impressive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-trip/getting-rich-is-easy-staying-rich-is-impressive/) [Don Trip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-trip/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) Chris Kirubi > [I am ambitious to do more than what has been offered me. I want to be the best in whatever career I choose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-chopra/i-am-ambitious-to-do-more-than-what-has-been-offered-me-i-want-to-be/) [Uday Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-chopra/) > [There are four varieties in society — the lovers, the ambitious, observers, and fools. The fools are the happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippolyte-taine/there-are-four-varieties-in-society-the-lovers-the-ambitious/) [Hippolyte Taine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippolyte-taine/) > [People who are ambitious - politicians who crave power - think that they're in control of it, but at some point, the movement that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/people-who-are-ambitious-politicians-who-crave-power-think-that-they/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [I'm not ambitious. Not a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-m-not-ambitious-not-a-bit/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Aggressive and hard-charging women violate unwritten rules about acceptable social conduct. Men are continually applauded for being ambitious and powerful and successful, but women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/aggressive-and-hard-charging-women-violate-unwritten-rules-about/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I understood early on that I was not the best-looking girl in the room. But I knew my advantage was a hard work ethic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-understood-early-on-that-i-was-not-the-best-looking-girl-in-the/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [It is ordained that to the ambitious, who derive no satisfaction from the gifts of life and the beauty of the world, life shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-ordained-that-to-the-ambitious-who-derive-no-satisfaction-from/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [If Reagan and John Paul II were linked by anything, it was a grand, ambitious, and generous idea of Western political civilization, one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/if-reagan-and-john-paul-ii-were-linked-by-anything-it-was-a-grand/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [To talk only about national security, national defense, means to be selfish, ambitious. It is discrimination, isolation. "It is just me. What do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/to-talk-only-about-national-security-national-defense-means-to-be/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) [Browse all 1,269 Ambitious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "NOBLEMAN, n. 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