All Ambrose Bierce Quotes
- ELEGY, n. A composition in verse, in which, without employing any of the methods of humor, the writer aims to produce in the reader's mind… Aim
- COMFORT, n. A state of mind produced by contemplation of a neighbor's uneasiness. Comfort
- Homo Creator's testimony to the sound construction and fine finish of Deus Creatus. A popular form of abjection, having an element of pride. Abjection
- A popular character in old Italian plays, who imitated with ludicrous incompetence the "buffone", or clown, and was therefore the ape of an ape; for… Ape
- A trite popular saying, or proverb. (Figurative and colloquial.) So called because it makes its way into a wooden head. Following are examples of old… Called
- An appellate court which reverses the judgment of a popular author's contemporaries, the appellant being his obscure competitor. Appellant
- A popular vote to ascertain the will of the sovereign. Ascertain
- A less popular name for the Second Person of that delectable newspaper Trinity, the Roomer, the Bedder, and the Mealer. Delectable
- PRISON, n. A place of punishments and rewards. The poet assures us that - stone walls do not a prison make. Assures
- LICKSPITTLE, n. A useful functionary, not infrequently found editing a newspaper . . . the lickspittle is only the blackmailer under another aspect, although the… Another Aspect
- REPLICA, n. A reproduction of a work of art, by the artist that made the original. It is so called to distinguish it from a… Another Artist
- CAVILER, n. A critic of our own work. Critic
- SERIAL, n. A literary work, usually a story that is not true, creeping through several issues of a newspaper or magazine. Creeping
- RESPITE, n. A suspension of hostilities against a sentenced assassin, to enable the Executive to determine whether the murder may not have been done by… Any
- COMPULSION, n. The eloquence of power. Compulsion
- PLENIPOTENTIARY, adj. Having full power. A Minister Plenipotentiary is a diplomatist possessing absolute authority on condition that he never exert it. Absolute
- 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… Agent
- SEINE, n. A kind of net for effecting an involuntary change of environment. For fish it is made strong and coarse, but women are more… Change
- LIMB, n. The branch of a tree or the leg of an American woman. American
- Women of genius commonly have masculine faces, figures and manners. In transplanting brains to an alien soil God leaves a little of the original earth… Alien
- WITCH, n. (1) Any ugly and repulsive old woman, in a wicked league with the devil. (2) A beautiful and attractive young woman, in wickedness… Any
- QUEEN, n. A woman by whom the realm is ruled when there is a king, and through whom it is ruled when there is not. King
- Least said is soon disavowed. Clarity
- PLAGIARIZE, v. To take the thought or style of another writer whom one has never, never read. Another Writer
- MONUMENT, n. A structure intended to commemorate something which either needs no commemoration or cannot be commemorated. Commemorate