Home › Authors › Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce Quotes
1842–1910 United States
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (June 24, 1842 – date of death uncertain; probably late 1912 or early 1914) was an American satirist, critic, short story writer, editor and journalist. He is perhaps most famous for his serialized mock lexicon, The Devil's Dictionary, in which, over the years, he scathed American culture and accepted wisdom by pointing out alternate, more practical definitions for common words.
United States Agnostics Columnists Comedians Critics Also known as: Bierce, Bierce, Ambrose, The Devil's Dictionary
Random Ambrose Bierce quote
361 quotes
BEARD, n. The hair that is commonly cut off by those who justly execrate the absurd Chinese custom of shaving the head.
The Cynic's Dictionary (1906)
LITIGATION, n. A machine which you go into as a pig and come out of as a sausage.
The Cynic's Dictionary (1906)
A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.
Deliberation, n.: The act of examining one's bread to determine which side it is buttered on.
If you would be accounted great by your contemporaries, be not too much greater than they.
Slang is the speech of him who robs the literary garbage carts on their way to the dumps.
The poor man's price of admittance to the favor of the rich is his self-respect.
All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher.
WITTICISM, n. A sharp and clever remark, usually quoted, and seldom noted; what the Philistine is pleased to call a "joke."
The Devil's Dictionary (1911)
Admiration, our polite recognition of another’s resemblance to ourselves.
The Cynic's Dictionary (1906)
The most intolerant advocate is he who is trying to convince himself.
If you want to read a perfect book there is only one way: write it.
He who thinks with difficulty believes with alacrity.
The covers of this book are too far apart.
The Devil's Dictionary (1911)
AFFLICTION, n. An acclimatizing process preparing the soul for another and bitter world.
The Cynic's Dictionary (1906)
CONSOLATION, n. The knowledge that a better man is more unfortunate than yourself.
The Cynic's Dictionary (1906)
REVERENCE, n. The spiritual attitude of a man to a god and a dog to a man.
The Devil's Dictionary (1911)
For every man there is something in the vocabulary that would stick to him like a second skin. His enemies have only to find it.
FOLLY, n. That "gift and faculty divine" whose creative and controlling energy inspires Man's mind, guides his actions and adorns his life.
The Cynic's Dictionary (1906)
Wisdom is known only by contrasting it with folly; by shadow only we perceive that all visible objects are not flat. Yet Philanthropos would abolish evil!
Topics Ambrose Bierce is quoted on
Works