Quote

ILLUSTRIOUS, adj. Suitably placed for the shafts of malice, envy and detraction.

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
Shafts
Illustrious
Malice
Placed
Envy
Suitably
Detraction

More quotes by Ambrose Bierce

Image
RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Wit - the salt with which the American humorist spoils his intellectual cookery by leaving it out.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Genealogy, n. An account of one's descent from a man who did not particularly care to trace his own.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Happiness: an agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of another.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
PIANO, n. A parlor utensil for subduing the impenitent visitor. It is operated by depressing the keys of the machine and the spirits of the audience.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
INCOMPATIBILITY, n. In matrimony a similarity of tastes, particularly the taste for domination. Incompatibility may, however, consist of a meek-eyed matron living just around the corner. It has even been known to wear a moustache.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
ULTIMATUM, n. In diplomacy, a last demand before resorting to concessions.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Every heart is the lair of a ferocious animal. The greatest wrong that you can put upon a man is to provoke him to let out his beast.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Potable, n. Suitable for drinking. Water is said to be potable indeed, some declare it our natural beverage, although even they find it palatable only when suffering from the recurrent disorder known as thirst, for which it is a medicine.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Who never doubted, never half believed. Where doubt is, there truth is - it is her shadow.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
A lottery is a tax on stupidity.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Fear has no brains it is an idiot.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Reverence for the Supreme Being, based upon His supposed resemblance to man. The pig is taught by sermons and epistles / To think the God of Swine has snout and bristles.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Habit: A shackle for the free.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Erudition - dust shaken out of a book into an empty skull.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
PRESIDE, v. To guide the action of a deliberative body to a desirable result. In Journalese, to perform upon a musical instrument as, He presided at the piccolo.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
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
Image
If you would be accounted great by your contemporaries, be not too much greater than they.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
IMAGINATION, n. A warehouse of facts, with poet and liar in joint ownership.
Ambrose Bierce