Quote

An ingenious compound of desirability and appearance. Discovery of truth is the sole purpose of philosophy, which is the most ancient occupation of the human mind and has a fair prospect of existing with increasing activity to the end of time.

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
Science
Appearance
Compound
Ends
Fairs
Compounds
Truth
Fair
Ingenious
Human
Discovery
Prospect
Humans
Ancient
Existing
Mind
Activity
Increasing
Time
Philosophy
Sole
Purpose
Occupation
Desirability

More quotes by Ambrose Bierce

Image
Future. That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true and our happiness is assured.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Bore, n. A person who talks when you wish him to listen.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Behavior, n. Conduct, as determined, not by principle, but by breeding.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Scribbler, n. A professional writer whose views are antagonistic to one's own.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Achievement the death of endeavor and the birth of disgust.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
PLAGUE, n. In ancient times a general punishment of the innocent for admonition of their ruler, as in the familiar instance of Pharaoh the Immune. The plague today . . . is merely Nature's fortuitous manifestation of her purposeless objectionableness.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Coronation: The ceremony of investing a sovereign with the outward and visible signs of his divine right to be blown skyhigh with a dynamite bomb.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
DISCUSSION, n. A method of confirming others in their errors.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Age - That period of life in which we compound for the vices that remain by reviling those we have no longer the vigor to commit.
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
A short story padded. A species of composition bearing the same relation to literature that the panorama bears to art. As it is too long to be read at a sitting the impressions made by its successive parts are successively effaced, as in the pa
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
BEGGAR, n. One who has relied on the assistance of his friends.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
FROG, n. A reptile with edible legs
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Nominee. A modest gentleman shrinking from the distinction of private life and diligently seeking the honorable obscurity of public office.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
In this world one must have a name it prevents confusion, even when it does not establish identity. Some, though, are known by numbers, which also seem inadequate distinctions.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
BODY-SNATCHER, n. A robber of grave-worms. One who supplies the young physicians with that with which the old physicians have supplied the undertaker.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Quill: An instrument of torture yielded by a goose and commonly weilded by as ass.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
IMPOSTOR n. A rival aspirant to public honors.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Birth: The first and direst of all disasters.
Ambrose Bierce