All Ambrose Bierce Quotes
- Love: A temporary insanity curable by marriage or by the removal of the patient from the influences under which he incurred the disorder. This disease,… Ailments
- Patriotism: The first resort of a scoundrel. First Resort
- Dance, v.i. To leap about to the sound of tittering music, preferably with arms about your neighbor's wife or daughter. There are many kinds of… All
- REVOLUTION, n. In politics, an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment. . . . the substitution of the rule of an Administration for that… Abrupt
- Kiss. n. A word invented by the poets as a rhyme for "bliss". Best Love
- Evolutionary biology is genuinely scientific, but more than that it opens the door to a world more marvellous than any Christian fundamentalist has ever read… Any
- Potable, n. Suitable for drinking. Water is said to be potable; indeed, some declare it our natural beverage, although even they find it palatable only… Beverage
- Egotist: a person more interested in himself than in me. Egotist
- Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt. Become Civilized
- We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They get run over. Get Run
- The small part of ignorance that we arrange and classify we give the name of knowledge. Arrange
- Lawsuit: A machine which you go into as a pig and come out of as a sausage. Go
- Ardor, n. The quality that distinguishes love without knowledge. Ardor
- Tenacity is a certain quality of the human hand in its relation to the coin of the realm. It attains its highest development in the… Attains
- SAFETY-CLUTCH, n. A mechanical device acting automatically to prevent the fall of an elevator, or cage, in case of an accident to the hoisting apparatus. Accident
- A revolution, in politics, is an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment. The substitution of the rule of an administration for that of a… Abrupt
- PANDEMONIUM, n. Literally, the Place of All the Demons. Most of them have escaped into politics and finance, and the place is now used as… All
- OPPOSITION, n. In politics the party that prevents the Government from running amuck by hamstringing it. The King of Ghargaroo, who had been abroad to… Abroad
- INFLUENCE, n. In politics, a visionary _quo_ given in exchange for a substantial _quid_. Exchange
- CONSUL, n. In American politics, a person who having failed to secure and office from the people is given one by the Administration on condition… Administration
- RIBROASTER, n. Censorious language by oneself concerning another. The word is of classical refinement, and is even said to have been used in a fable… Been
- DECALOGUE, n. A series of commandments, ten in number --just enough to permit an intelligent selection for observance, but not enough to embarrass the choice.… Abet
- OPPOSITION, n. In politics the party that prevents the Government from running amuck by hamstringing it. The King of Ghargaroo, who had been abroad to… Abroad
- WASHINGTONIAN, n. A Potomac tribesman who exchanged the privilege of governing himself for the advantage of good government. In justice to him it should be… Advantage
- ARISTOCRACY, n. Government by the best men. (In this sense the word is obsolete; so is that kind of government.) Fellows that wear downy hats… Accounts