Ambrose Bierce quotes - page 32

DOG, n. A subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship.... His master works for the means wherewith to purchase the idle wag of the Solomonic tail, seasoned with a look of tolerant recognition. (Ambrose Bierce)
RABBLE, n. In a republic, those who exercise a supreme authority tempered by fraudulent elections. The rabble is like the sacred Simurgh, of Arabian fable omnipotent on condition that it do nothing. View quote
Ambrose Bierce
POSITIVISM, n. A philosophy that denies our knowledge of the Real and affirms our ignorance of the Apparent. Its longest exponent is Comte, its broadest Mill and its thickest Spencer. View quote
Ambrose Bierce
PERIPATETIC, adj. Walking about. Relating to the philosophy of Aristotle, who, while expounding it, moved from place to place in order to avoid his pupil's objections. A needless precaution they knew no more of the matter than he. View quote
Ambrose Bierce
PROOF-READER, n. A malefactor who atones for making your writing nonsense by permitting the compositor to make it unintelligible. View quote
Ambrose Bierce
HYBRID, n. A pooled issue. View quote
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HABIT, n. A shackle for the free. View quote
Ambrose Bierce
ZANY, n. 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 the clown himself imitated the serious characters of the play. View quote
Ambrose Bierce
Brain, n. An apparatus with which we think that we think... In our civilization, and under our republican form of government, intelligence is so highly honored that it is rewarded by exemption from the cares of office. View quote
Ambrose Bierce