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DUEL, n. A formal ceremony preliminary to reconciliation of two enemies. Great skill is necessary to its satisfactory observance if awkwardly performed . . . deplorable consequences sometimes ensue. A long time ago a man lost his life.

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
Men
Losing
Reconciliation
Awkwardly
Time
Necessary
Ceremony
Ensue
Life
Enemy
Formal
Duel
Lost
Skill
Preliminary
Two
Consequences
Deplorable
Sometimes
Enemies
Observance
Great
Consequence
Satisfactory
Long
Skills
Performed

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CALUMNUS, n. A graduate of the School for Scandal.
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If every hypocrite in the United States were to break his leg to-day the country could be successfully invaded to-morrow by the warlike hypocrites of Canada.
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Youth looks forward, for nothing is behind! Age backward, for nothing is before.
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RITUALISM, n. A Dutch Garden of God where He may walk in rectilinear freedom, keeping off the grass.
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Phoenix, n. The classical prototype of the modern 'small hot bird.'
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NIHILIST, n. A Russian who denies the existence of anything but Tolstoi. The leader of the school is Tolstoi.
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Patriotism, n. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name. In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit it is the first.
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A cheap and easy cynicism rails at everything. The master of the art accomplishes the formidable task of discrimination.
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ORTHOGRAPHY, n. The science of spelling by the eye instead of the ear.
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A popular vote to ascertain the will of the sovereign.
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DISCRIMINATE, v.i. To note the particulars in which one person or thing is, if possible, more objectionable than another.
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predilection, n. The preparatory stage of disillusion.
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Optimism - the doctrine or belief that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly.
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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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BEG, v. To ask for something with an earnestness proportioned to the belief that it will not be given.
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An egotist is a person of low taste - more interested in himself than in me.
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Nominee. A modest gentleman shrinking from the distinction of private life and diligently seeking the honorable obscurity of public office.
Ambrose Bierce
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Book - Learning : The dunce's derisive term for all knowledge that transcends his own impertinent ignorance.
Ambrose Bierce