Ambrose Bierce quotes - page 14

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 a lecture hall by the Audible Reformer. (Ambrose Bierce)
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. View quote
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RUMOR, n. A favorite weapon of the assassins of character. View quote
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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 clinging to the roots. View quote
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TALK, v.t. To commit an indiscretion without temptation, from an impulse without purpose. View quote
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REAR, n. In American military matters, that exposed part of the army that is nearest to Congress. View quote
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CONTEMPT, n. The feeling of a prudent man for an enemy who is too formidable safely to be opposed. View quote
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PANTALOONS, n. A nether habiliment of the adult civilized male. The garment is tubular and unprovided with hinges at the points of flexion. Supposed to have been invented by a humorist. Called 'trousers' by the enlightened and 'pants' by the unworthy. View quote
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EXILE, n. One who serves his country by residing abroad, yet is not an ambassador. View quote
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ULTIMATUM, n. In diplomacy, a last demand before resorting to concessions. View quote
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SIREN, n. One of several musical prodigies famous for a vain attempt to dissuade Odysseus from a life on the ocean wave. Figuratively, any lady of splendid promise, dissembled purpose and disappointing performance. (Ambrose Bierce)
WAR, n. A by-product of the arts of peace. The most menacing political condition is a period of international amity. View quote
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REALISM, n. The art of depicting nature as it is seem by toads. The charm suffusing a landscape painted by a mole, or a story written by a measuring-worm. View quote
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EXCEPTION, n. A thing which takes the liberty to differ from other things of its class, as an honest man, a truthful woman, etc. View quote
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PRESIDENCY, n. The greased pig in the field game of American politics. View quote
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DEATH, n. To stop sinning suddenly. View quote
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PLENIPOTENTIARY, adj. Having full power. A Minister Plenipotentiary is a diplomatist possessing absolute authority on condition that he never exert it. View quote
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TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer. View quote
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INTIMACY, n. A relation into which fools are providentially drawn for their mutual destruction. View quote
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DEJEUNER, n. The breakfast of an American who has been in Paris. Variously pronounced. View quote
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COMMERCE, n. A kind of transaction in which A plunders from B the goods of C, and for compensation B picks the pocket of D of money belonging to E. (Ambrose Bierce)
PITY, n. A failing sense of exemption, inspired by contrast. View quote
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YESTERDAY, n. The infancy of youth, the youth of manhood, the entire past of age. View quote
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PAIN, n. An uncomfortable frame of mind that may have a physical basis in something that is being done to the body, or may be purely mental, caused by the good fortune of another. View quote
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FASHION, n. A despot whom the wise ridicule and obey. View quote
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