--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Respectability, n. The offspring of a…" description: "\"Respectability, n. The offspring of a liaison between a bald head and a bank account.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/ambrose-bierce-140_accounts_respectability-n-the-offspring-of-a-liai_1307861.jpg" --- # Respectability, n. The offspring of a liaison between a… ![“Respectability, n. The offspring of a liaison between a bald head and a bank account.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/ambrose-bierce-140_accounts_respectability-n-the-offspring-of-a-liai_1307861.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/ambrose-bierce-140_accounts_respectability-n-the-offspring-of-a-liai_1307861.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/ambrose-bierce-140_accounts_respectability-n-the-offspring-of-a-liai_1307861.jpg) > “Respectability, n. The offspring of a liaison between a bald head and a bank account.” [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. Satirically defines respectability as a superficial combination of appearance and wealth, critiquing social pretensions. **In simple terms:** Respectability is shallow and material. Key Takeaway Question appearances and values. Themes satire social critique materialism Mood cynical witty Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - social gatherings - personal branding - media portrayal Key Concepts class dynamics identity social status Questions to Reflect On - Do you judge others by looks or actions? - How does wealth influence perceived respect? A Different Perspective May overgeneralize and ignore genuine integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bank account](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bank-account/) [Bank accounts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bank-accounts/) [Liaison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liaison/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respectability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respectability/) ## Related quotes > [Aristocrats: n. fellows that wear downy hats and clean shirts - guilty of education and suspected of bank accounts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/aristocrats-n-fellows-that-wear-downy-hats-and-clean-shirts-guilty-of/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [For most of my relationships, I would have liaisons, and I would feel guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/for-most-of-my-relationships-i-would-have-liaisons-and-i-would-feel/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [“It is still cheating, even if nobody comes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/it-is-still-cheating-even-if-nobody-comes/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Unfortunately, proof of a Jefferson-Hemings liaison was as fanciful as Professor Ellis' war service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/unfortunately-proof-of-a-jefferson-hemings-liaison-was-as-fanciful-as/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Stick choice should be every drummers first decision. Sticks are the liaison between you and your creative expression on the drums. Getting there the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rikki-rockett/stick-choice-should-be-every-drummers-first-decision-sticks-are-the/) Rikki Rockett > [Venice is ever the fragile labyrinth at the edge of the sea and it reminds us how brief and perilous the journeys of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/venice-is-ever-the-fragile-labyrinth-at-the-edge-of-the-sea-and-it/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [Art is a liaison between some sort of deranged mentality and others who are not going through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-chamberlain/art-is-a-liaison-between-some-sort-of-deranged-mentality-and-others/) [John Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-chamberlain/) > [Our President feels, and apparently many in the United Nations Security Council feel, that it is necessary to disarm Iraq before Iraq can again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/our-president-feels-and-apparently-many-in-the-united-nations/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [We walked for some time, and grew to know each other, as best as we'd allow. These are some of the high points. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-ellison/we-walked-for-some-time-and-grew-to-know-each-other-as-best-as-we-d/) [Harlan Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-ellison/) > [The advertising man is a liaison between the products of business and the mind of the nation. He must know both before he can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-frank/the-advertising-man-is-a-liaison-between-the-products-of-business-and/) Glenn Frank > [Somehow she knew he would take a love affair very seriously indeed. Once that pinpoint focus was engaged, he would throw himself body and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/somehow-she-knew-he-would-take-a-love-affair-very-seriously-indeed/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [Glenn Close is a living icon. You look at the work, and I think it's wild, because she thinks some of her best work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-anderson/glenn-close-is-a-living-icon-you-look-at-the-work-and-i-think-it-s/) [Anthony Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-anderson/) > [When you work in the White House you talk to the White House staff all day, so you're talking to the guy who handles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/when-you-work-in-the-white-house-you-talk-to-the-white-house-staff/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [So far I had been travelling alone with my handbook and my Western Railway timetable: I was happiest finding my own way and did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/so-far-i-had-been-travelling-alone-with-my-handbook-and-my-western/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [All liaisons between homosexuals are conducted as though they were between a chorus girl and a bishop. In some cases both parties think they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/all-liaisons-between-homosexuals-are-conducted-as-though-they-were/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) ## 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 Accounts quotes > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. 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