---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: OUT-OF-DOORS, n. That part of one's…"
description: "\"OUT-OF-DOORS, n. That part of one's environment upon which no government has been able to collect taxes. Chiefly useful to inspire poets.\" — Ambrose Bi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/ambrose-bierce-140_able_out-of-doors-n-that-part-of-one-s-enviro_2747968.jpg"
---

#  OUT-OF-DOORS, n. That part of one's environment upon which…

![“OUT-OF-DOORS, n. That part of one's environment upon which no government has been able to collect taxes. Chiefly useful to inspire poets.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/ambrose-bierce-140_able_out-of-doors-n-that-part-of-one-s-enviro_2747968.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/ambrose-bierce-140_able_out-of-doors-n-that-part-of-one-s-enviro_2747968.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/ambrose-bierce-140_able_out-of-doors-n-that-part-of-one-s-enviro_2747968.jpg)

> “OUT-OF-DOORS, n. That part of one's environment upon which no government has been able to collect taxes. Chiefly useful to inspire poets.”

[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 “out‑of‑doors” is a place beyond government tax reach, inspiring poetic imagination.

**In simple terms:** Unregulated spaces spark creativity.

Key Takeaway

Explore untapped areas for fresh ideas.

Themes

freedom taxation creativity poetry

Mood

contemplative curious

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- remote nature
- urban graffiti
- digital spaces

Key Concepts

tax law literary metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

- What spaces feel untaxed to you?
- How does freedom affect artistic expression?

A Different Perspective

Legal definitions vary.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/)

## Related quotes

> [“We inspire each other. Poets and Artists are best friends and muses for each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/we-inspire-each-other-poets-and-artists-are-best-friends-and-muses/)

[Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/)

> [Huguette Clark has had her own tax liens - four times, the IRS has filed to collect taxes from her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/huguette-clark-has-had-her-own-tax-liens-four-times-the-irs-has-filed/)

[Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/)

> [The most important ways in which I think the Internet will affect the big issue is that it will make it more difficult for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-most-important-ways-in-which-i-think-the-internet-will-affect-the/)

[Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/)

> [We cannot collect enough taxes to catch up with spending. Do I know a solution? Not really. Do your politicians know a solution? Does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/we-cannot-collect-enough-taxes-to-catch-up-with-spending-do-i-know-a/)

[Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/)

> [If the government can make money, what on earth does it collect taxes for you and me for? Why don't it make what money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-the-government-can-make-money-what-on-earth-does-it-collect-taxes/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [If you cut taxes on the rich, they'll get so excited and go into so much busy economic activity, that the economy will grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-palast/if-you-cut-taxes-on-the-rich-they-ll-get-so-excited-and-go-into-so/)

[Greg Palast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-palast/)

> [On the IRS website, they claim to be one of the world's most efficient tax administrators. The IRS officials might know how to collect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-schlapp/on-the-irs-website-they-claim-to-be-one-of-the-world-s-most-efficient/)

[Mercedes Schlapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-schlapp/)

> [In other words, governments do not collect taxes to provide services, they provide services as an excuse to collect taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-maybury/in-other-words-governments-do-not-collect-taxes-to-provide-services/)

[Richard J. Maybury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-maybury/)

> [The government who not able to providing basic infrastructure to the public like water and electricity. How can you expect him to have some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-government-who-not-able-to-providing-basic-infrastructure-to-the/)

Mak\_786

> [The government would be able to go to court with respect to newspaper articles, broadcast pieces and the like that they thought were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-abrams/the-government-would-be-able-to-go-to-court-with-respect-to-newspaper/)

[Floyd Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-abrams/)

> [Scientists under all forms of government must be able to participate fully in international efforts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-g-wilson/scientists-under-all-forms-of-government-must-be-able-to-participate/)

[Kenneth G. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-g-wilson/)

> [We have to find ways in which, collectively, we agree there's some things that government needs to do to help protect us, that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-have-to-find-ways-in-which-collectively-we-agree-there-s-some/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [No man is a warmer advocate for proper restraints and wholesome checks in every department of government than I am; but I have never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/no-man-is-a-warmer-advocate-for-proper-restraints-and-wholesome/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [The government who is not be able to provide basic facilities such as electricity and water to the public. So how can you expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-government-who-is-not-be-able-to-provide-basic-facilities-such-as/)

Mak\_786

> [A large brain, like large government, may not be able to do simple things in a simple way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-hebb/a-large-brain-like-large-government-may-not-be-able-to-do-simple/)

Donald O. Hebb

## 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 Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/)

Greg Perry

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

Browse all 17,257 Able quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "OUT-OF-DOORS, n. That part of one's environment upon which no government has been able to collect taxes. Chiefly useful to inspire poets.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ambrose Bierce"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/out-of-doors-n-that-part-of-one-s-environment-upon-which-no/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/out-of-doors-n-that-part-of-one-s-environment-upon-which-no/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/ambrose-bierce-140_able_out-of-doors-n-that-part-of-one-s-enviro_2747968.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/ambrose-bierce-140_able_out-of-doors-n-that-part-of-one-s-enviro_2747968.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/ambrose-bierce-140_able_out-of-doors-n-that-part-of-one-s-enviro_2747968.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“OUT-OF-DOORS, n. That part of one's environment upon which no government has been able to collect taxes…” — 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": "OUT-OF-DOORS, n. That part of one's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/out-of-doors-n-that-part-of-one-s-environment-upon-which-no/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/out-of-doors-n-that-part-of-one-s-environment-upon-which-no/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
