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Ambrose Bierce

81 quotes

Ambrose Bierce (1842–circa 1914) was an American short story writer, journalist, and satirist best known for his darkly humorous *The Devil's Dictionary*, which redefined common words with biting cynicism. A Civil War veteran, Bierce brought a sharp, unsentimental eye to American life and politics.

“Land: A part of the earth's surface, considered as property. The theory that land is property subject to private ownership and control is the foundation of modern society, and is eminently worthy of the superstructure.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Society

All Quotes by Ambrose Bierce

“It is evident that skepticism, while it makes no actual change in man, always makes him feel better.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Change

“Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Technology

“Vote: the instrument and symbol of a freeman's power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Power

“Eulogy. Praise of a person who has either the advantages of wealth and power, or the consideration to be dead.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Power

“Academe, n.: An ancient school where morality and philosophy were taught. Academy, n.: A modern school where football is taught.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Sports

“Inventor: A person who makes an ingenious arrangement of wheels, levers and springs, and believes it civilization.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Technology

“The small part of ignorance that we arrange and classify we give the name of knowledge.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Knowledge

“Who never doubted, never half believed. Where doubt is, there truth is - it is her shadow.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Truth

“Anoint, v.: To grease a king or other great functionary already sufficiently slippery.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Great

“Positive, adj.: Mistaken at the top of one's voice.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Positive

“Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining profit without individual responsibility.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Business

“Wit - the salt with which the American humorist spoils his intellectual cookery by leaving it out.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Humor

“Revolution, n. In politics, an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Change

“Destiny: A tyrant's authority for crime and a fool's excuse for failure.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Failure

“Future. That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true and our happiness is assured.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Future

“Prescription: A physician's guess at what will best prolong the situation with least harm to the patient.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Best

“We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Attitude

“Architect. One who drafts a plan of your house, and plans a draft of your money.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Money

“Experience is a revelation in the light of which we renounce our errors of youth for those of age.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Age

“Patriotism. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name.”

— Ambrose Bierce

Patriotism