--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hardest tumble a man can take is to…" description: "\"“The hardest tumble a man can take is to fall over his own bluff.”\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/926/ambrose-bierce-140_bluffing_the-hardest-tumble-a-man-can-take-is-to_2764886.jpg" --- # The hardest tumble a man can take is to fall over his own… ![“The hardest tumble a man can take is to fall over his own bluff.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/926/ambrose-bierce-140_bluffing_the-hardest-tumble-a-man-can-take-is-to_2764886.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/926/ambrose-bierce-140_bluffing_the-hardest-tumble-a-man-can-take-is-to_2764886.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/926/ambrose-bierce-140_bluffing_the-hardest-tumble-a-man-can-take-is-to_2764886.jpg) > ““The hardest tumble a man can take is to fall over his own bluff.”” [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. Self‑deception is the most painful downfall; confronting truth is essential. **In simple terms:** Lying to yourself hurts most. Key Takeaway Seek honesty over comfort. Themes self‑awareness truth vulnerability Mood introspective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What bluffs are you maintaining? - How does honesty improve your life? A Different Perspective Hard truth can be destabilizing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bluffing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bluffing/) [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Tumble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tumble/) ## Related quotes > [The hardest tumble a man can make is to fall over his own bluff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/the-hardest-tumble-a-man-can-make-is-to-fall-over-his-own-bluff/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“His natural taciturnity was in his favour; nothing could be more calculated to give people, especially people with property (Soames had no other clients),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/his-natural-taciturnity-was-in-his-favour-nothing-could-be-more/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [“Everything started the night I saw the burning man fall from the sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/everything-started-the-night-i-saw-the-burning-man-fall-from-the-sky/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [It ain't no disgrace for a man to fall, but to lie there and grunt is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-no-disgrace-for-a-man-to-fall-but-to-lie-there-and-grunt-is/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [“We have here very high towers; a man who should fall from one would be dead before he touched the pavement; when it shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/we-have-here-very-high-towers-a-man-who-should-fall-from-one-would-be/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Oh, from what heights of blessing it is possible for a man to fall! To what depths of sin a man can descend, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-from-what-heights-of-blessing-it-is-possible-for-a-man-to-fall-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When a man fall in love, he sleep-well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj-kr-thakur/when-a-man-fall-in-love-he-sleep-well/) [Anuj Kr. Thakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj-kr-thakur/) > [“Man may fall and fail, but God is always right. Man may die and perish, but God is always alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/man-may-fall-and-fail-but-god-is-always-right-man-may-die-and-perish/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [A man may fall many times but he won't be a failure until he says someone pushed him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-may-fall-many-times-but-he-won-t-be-a-failure-until-he-says/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man may fall many a times but he is not a failure unless he says someone pushed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmer-g-letterman/a-man-may-fall-many-a-times-but-he-is-not-a-failure-unless-he-says/) Elmer G Letterman > [“It is a curious thing, watching a strong man fall to pieces.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-is-a-curious-thing-watching-a-strong-man-fall-to-pieces/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [It is not funny that anything else should fall down; only that a man should fall down... Why do we laugh? Because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/it-is-not-funny-that-anything-else-should-fall-down-only-that-a-man/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [To be poor without being free is the worst state into which man can fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/to-be-poor-without-being-free-is-the-worst-state-into-which-man-can/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [they say every man needs protection, they say every man must fall. yet I swear I see my reflection,some place high above this wall…and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/they-say-every-man-needs-protection-they-say-every-man-must-fall-yet/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [No man can fall into contempt but those who deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/no-man-can-fall-into-contempt-but-those-who-deserve-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## 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 Bluffing quotes > [Negotiating deals among members of Congress is an exercise in wearing masks, scaring up votes, and, oftentimes, bluffing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/negotiating-deals-among-members-of-congress-is-an-exercise-in-wearing/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [Although I have to say, it's become a lot harder for me since I won the world series because everyone wants to beat me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-moneymaker/although-i-have-to-say-it-s-become-a-lot-harder-for-me-since-i-won/) [Chris Moneymaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-moneymaker/) > [I'm not a good poker player, but I've got one bluffing technique - as long as you're quick with the blinds, you're fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sienna-guillory/i-m-not-a-good-poker-player-but-i-ve-got-one-bluffing-technique-as/) [Sienna Guillory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sienna-guillory/) > [The Americans are good about making fancy cars and refrigerators, but that doesn't mean they are any good at making aircraft. They are bluffing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-goring/the-americans-are-good-about-making-fancy-cars-and-refrigerators-but/) [Hermann Goring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-goring/) > [“Rule 1 for Mortals: Love the Lord your God (with every bit of you). Rule 2 for Mortals: Love your neighbor as yourself. Tip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/rule-1-for-mortals-love-the-lord-your-god-with-every-bit-of-you-rule/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [I'm a short, fairly plain person who's bluffing his case and getting away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-blunt/i-m-a-short-fairly-plain-person-who-s-bluffing-his-case-and-getting/) [James Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-blunt/) > [“You think I should use magick like mine to open a tomb?" Mari asked in a scoffing tone. Mistress of bluffing, working it here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/you-think-i-should-use-magick-like-mine-to-open-a-tomb-mari-asked-in/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [I don't like uncertainty. I don't play poker. I don't like bluffing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-don-t-like-uncertainty-i-don-t-play-poker-i-don-t-like-bluffing/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“Don’t assume I’m bluffing Nan. Because this time you’ve fucked with something I care about. This affects me, so listen and shut the hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/don-t-assume-i-m-bluffing-nan-because-this-time-you-ve-fucked-with/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [Lies and truth are sort of like a poker game. You don't want to show anyone your hand, and sometimes you have to bluff.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lies-and-truth-are-sort-of-like-a-poker-game-you-don-t-want-to-show/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Was that a sly smile of the initiate, or a dumb smile of bluffing?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-silverberg/was-that-a-sly-smile-of-the-initiate-or-a-dumb-smile-of-bluffing/) [Robert Silverberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-silverberg/) > [“At literary gatherings he made a practice of slipping away from “the gaunt and great, the famed for conversation” (as he called them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-literary-gatherings-he-made-a-practice-of-slipping-away-from-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Those who can really do what they promise don't first pause to promise what they can do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-willingham/those-who-can-really-do-what-they-promise-don-t-first-pause-to/) [Bill Willingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-willingham/) > [“RULES OF LYING: 1. Figure out your lie before you open your mouth. 2. Play on your opponent's sympathies and weaknesses 3. Dance around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-walker/rules-of-lying-1-figure-out-your-lie-before-you-open-your-mouth-2/) [Kristin Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-walker/) > [I learned that the people who have the cards are usually the ones who talk the least and the softest; those who are bluffing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-learned-that-the-people-who-have-the-cards-are-usually-the-ones-who/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) [Browse all 38 Bluffing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bluffing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The hardest tumble a man can take is to fall over his own bluff.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/the-hardest-tumble-a-man-can-take-is-to-fall-over-his-own-bluff/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bluffing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/the-hardest-tumble-a-man-can-take-is-to-fall-over-his-own-bluff/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/926/ambrose-bierce-140_bluffing_the-hardest-tumble-a-man-can-take-is-to_2764886.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/926/ambrose-bierce-140_bluffing_the-hardest-tumble-a-man-can-take-is-to_2764886.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/926/ambrose-bierce-140_bluffing_the-hardest-tumble-a-man-can-take-is-to_2764886.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The hardest tumble a man can take is to fall over his own bluff.” — 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": "“The hardest tumble a man can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/the-hardest-tumble-a-man-can-take-is-to-fall-over-his-own-bluff/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/the-hardest-tumble-a-man-can-take-is-to-fall-over-his-own-bluff/#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 } } ] } ```