Ambrose Bierce Quotes, Confusion Quotes, Confusing Quotes

OWE, v. To have (and to hold) a debt. The word formerly signified not indebtedness, but possession; it meant "own," and in the minds of debtors there is still a good deal of confusion between assets and liabilities.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Confusion Quotes , Confusing Quotes

Dawn: When men of reason go to bed.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Morning Quotes , Sleep Quotes

Pun: A form of wit, to which wise men stoop and fools aspire

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Wise Quotes , Men Quotes

Meekness: Uncommon patience in planning a revenge that is worth while.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Patience Quotes , Revenge Quotes

Cynic, n: a blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Vision Quotes , Cynicism Quotes

RIMER, n. A poet regarded with indifference or disesteem.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Differences Quotes , Indifference Quotes

predilection, n. The preparatory stage of disillusion.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Disappointment Quotes , Stage Quotes

Behavior, n. Conduct, as determined, not by principle, but by breeding.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Principles Quotes , Determined Quotes

REPUBLIC, n. A nation in which, the thing governing and the thing governed being the same, there is only a permitted authority to enforce an optional obedience.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Republic Quotes , Obedience Quotes

When you have made a catalogue of your friend's faults it is only fair to supply him with a duplicate, so that he may know yours.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , May Quotes , Faults Quotes

PHOTOGRAPH, n. A picture painted by the sun without instruction in art. It is a little better than the work of an Apache, but not quite so good as that of a Cheyenne.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Photography Quotes , Art Quotes

Amnesty, n. The state's magnanimity to those offenders whom it would be too expensive to punish.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Punishment Quotes , Would Be Quotes

One of the greatest of poets, Coleridge was one of the wisest of men, and it was not for nothing that he read us this parable. Let us have a little less of "hands across the sea," and a little more of that elemental distrust that is the security of nations. War loves to come like a thief in the night; professions of eternal amity provide the night.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , War Quotes , Night Quotes

PRESIDE, v. To guide the action of a deliberative body to a desirable result. In Journalese, to perform upon a musical instrument; as, "He presided at the piccolo."

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Music Quotes , Body Quotes

As records of courts and justice are admissible, it can easily be proved that powerful and malevolent magicians once existed and were a scourge to mankind. The evidence (including confession) upon which certain women were convicted of witchcraft and executed was without a flaw; it is still unimpeachable. The judges' decisions based on it were sound in logic and in law. Nothing in any existing court was ever more thoroughly proved than the charges of witchcraft and sorcery for which so many suffered death. If there were no witches, human testimony and human reason are alike destitute of value.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Powerful Quotes , Law Quotes

FORMA PAUPERIS. [Latin] In the character of a poor person - a method by which a litigant without money for lawyers is considerately permitted to lose his case.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Money Quotes , Latin Quotes

A person of greater enterprise than discretion, who in embracing an opportunity has formed an unfortunate attachment.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Opportunity Quotes , Attachment Quotes

Patience, n. A minor form of dispair, disguised as a virtue.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Sarcastic Quotes , Patience Quotes

IMBECILITY, n. A kind of divine inspiration, or sacred fire affecting censorious critics of this dictionary.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Inspiration Quotes , Fire Quotes

Belladonna, n.: In Italian a beautiful lady; in English a deadly poison. A striking example of the essential identity of the two tongues.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Beautiful Quotes , Italian Quotes