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

Ambrose Bierce

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Ambrose Bierce
Born: 1842
Born: June 24
Aphorist
Journalist
Poet
Science Fiction Writer
Writer
Meigs County
Ohio
Dod Grile
William Herman
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce
Ambrose Bierce
Offenders
Amnesty
Punish
Expensive
Punishment
State
States
Would
Magnanimity

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An election is nothing more than the advanced auction of stolen goods.
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REVEILLE, n. A signal to sleeping soldiers to dream of battlefields no more, but get up and have their blue noses counted.
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Beauty, n: the power by which a woman charms a lover and terrifies a husband.
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MISERICORDE, n. A dagger which in mediaeval warfare was used by the foot soldier to remind an unhorsed knight that he was mortal.
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NON-COMBATANT, n. A dead Quaker.
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HUSBAND, n. One who, having dined, is charged with the care of the plate.
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recollect, v. To recall with additions something not previously known.
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I think I think, therefore I think I am.
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I was born to poor because of honest parents.
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IDLENESS, n. A model farm where the devil experiments with seeds of new sins and promotes the growth of staple vices.
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WEAKNESSES, n.pl. Certain primal powers of Tyrant Woman wherewith she holds dominion over the male of her species, binding him to the service of her will and paralyzing his rebellious energies.
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Riven and torn with cannon-shot, the trunks of the trees protruded bunches of splinters like hands, the fingers above the wound interlacing with those below.
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ASS, n. A public singer with a good voice but no ear.
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Compromise, n. Such an adjustment of conflicting interests as gives each adversary the satisfaction of thinking he has got what he ought not to have, and is deprived of nothing except what was justly his due.
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MARTYR, One who moves along the line of least reluctance to a desired death.
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One who, professing virtues that he does not respect, secures the advantage of seeming to be what he despises.
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REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work upon a book, and so read out of it/ The qualities that you have first read into it.
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MOUSE, n. An animal which strews its path with fainting women.
Ambrose Bierce