Quote

Erudition - dust shaken out of a book into an empty skull.

Ambrose Bierce

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

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
Erudition
Shaken
Skull
Skulls
Dust
Empty
Book

More quotes by Ambrose Bierce

Image
San Francisco is the place where most people were last seen
Ambrose Bierce
Image
PROPERTY, n. Any material thing, having no particular value, that may be held by A against the cupidity of B. Whatever gratifies the passion for possession in one and disappoints it in all others. The object of man's brief rapacity and long indifference.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
adherent, n. A follower who has not yet obtained all that he expects to get.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Condole - to show that bereavement is a smaller evil than sympathy.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
When prosperous the fool trembles for the evil that is to come in adversity the philosopher smiles for the good that he has had.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
A system of pitfalls thoughtfully prepared for the feet for the self-made man, along the path by which he advances to distinction.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
LAWYER, n. One skilled in circumvention of the law.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Cynicism is that blackguard defect of vision which compels us to see the world as it is, instead of as it should be.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
A penny saved is a penny to squander.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
SACRED, adj. Dedicated to some religious purpose having a divine character inspiring solemn thoughts or emotions as... the Cow in India the Crocodile, the Cat and the Onion of ancient Egypt.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Infidel, n. In New York, one who does not believe in the Christian religion in Constantinople, one who does.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
They say that hens do cackle loudest when there is nothing vital in the eggs they have laid.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
PRESIDENT, n. The leading figure in a small group of men of whom - and of whom only - it is positively known that immense numbers of their countrymen did not want any of them for President.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Debt, n. An ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of the slavedriver.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
HOMŒOPATHIST, n. The humorist of the medical profession.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
AFFLICTION, n. An acclimatizing process preparing the soul for another and bitter world.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
MALTHUSIAN, adj. Pertaining to Malthus and his doctrines, who believed in artificially limiting population, but found that it could not be done by talking. Herod of Judea, all the famous soldiers have been practical exponents of the Malthusian idea.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
RIBALDRY, n. Censorious language by another concerning oneself.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself whereas he is a fool then only.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Legitimate authority to be, to do or to have as the right to be a king, the right to do one's neighbor, the right to have measles, and the like.
Ambrose Bierce