Quote

UNDERSTANDING, n. A cerebral secretion that enables one having it to know a house from a horse by the roof on the house. Its nature and laws have been exhaustively expounded by Locke, who rode a house, and Kant, who lived in a horse.

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
Horse
Exhaustively
Laws
Expounded
Lived
Locke
Law
Kant
Understanding
Rode
House
Cerebral
Nature
Enables
Life
Roof
Secretion

More quotes by Ambrose Bierce

Image
International arbitration may be defined as the substitution of many burning questions for a smoldering one
Ambrose Bierce
Image
A bad workman quarrels with the man who calls him that.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Bigamy, n. A mistake in taste for which the wisdom of the future will adjudge a punishment called trigamy.
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
PALACE, n. A fine and costly residence, particularly that of a great official. The residence of a high dignitary of the Christian Church is called a palace that of the Founder of his religion was known as a field, or wayside. There is progress.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
prospect, n. An outlook, usually forbidding. An expectation, usually forbidden.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
GOOD, adj. Sensible, madam, to the worth of this present writer. Alive, sir, to the advantages of letting him alone.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
OSTRICH, n. A large bird to which (for its sins, doubtless) nature has denied that hinder toe . . . . The absence of a good working pair of wings is no defect, for, as has been ingeniously pointed out, the ostrich does not fly.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
TRUCE, n. Friendship.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Nature's fortuitous manifestation of her purposeless objectionableness.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
CARNIVOROUS, adj. Addicted to the cruelty of devouring the timorous vegetarian, his heirs and assigns.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Responsibility, n. A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one's neighbor. In the days of astrology it was customary to unload it upon a star.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
The most intolerant advocate is he who is trying to convince himself.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
REPRESENTATIVE, n. In national politics, a member of the Lower House in this world, and without discernible hope of promotion in the next.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Mausoleum, n: the final and funniest folly of the rich.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Confidante: One entrusted by A with the secrets of B confided to herself by C.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Phoenix, n. The classical prototype of the modern 'small hot bird.'
Ambrose Bierce
Image
GUNPOWDER, n. An agency employed by civilized nations for the settlement of disputes which might become troublesome if left unadjusted.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
WAR, n. A by-product of the arts of peace. The most menacing political condition is a period of international amity.
Ambrose Bierce