Quote

ORATORY, n. A conspiracy between speech and action to cheat the understanding. A tyranny tempered by stenography.

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
Conspiracy
Tyranny
Speech
Understanding
Action
Oratory
Tempered
Cheating
Cheat

More quotes by Ambrose Bierce

Image
ULTIMATUM, n. In diplomacy, a last demand before resorting to concessions.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
WEAKNESSES, n.pl. Certain primal powers of Tyrant Woman wherewith she holds dominion over the male of her species, binding him to the service of her will and paralyzing his rebellious energies.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
History is an account, mostly false, of events, mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers, mostly knaves, and soldiers, mostly fools.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
A bad workman quarrels with the man who calls him that.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Absurdity, n.: A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one's own opinion.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
PRESIDENCY, n. The greased pig in the field game of American politics.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
A bird in the hand is worth what it will bring.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
The Senate is a body of old men charged with high duties and misdemeanors.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
To be comic is merely to be playful, but wit is a serious matter. To laugh at it is to confess that you do not understand.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
RESPITE, n. A suspension of hostilities against a sentenced assassin, to enable the Executive to determine whether the murder may not have been done by the prosecuting attorney. Any break in the continuity of a disagreeable expectation.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
ARSENIC, n. A kind of cosmetic greatly affected by the ladies, whom it greatly affects in turn.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Doubt is the father of invention.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
DELUGE, n. A notable first experiment in baptism which washed away the sins (and sinners) of the world.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Opportunity: A favorable occasion for grasping a disappointment.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
MISCREANT, n. A person of the highest degree of unworth. Etymologically, the word means unbeliever, and its present signification may be regarded as theology's noblest contribution to the development of our language.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Turkey: A large bird whose flesh, when eaten on certain religious anniversaries has the peculiar property of attesting piety and gratitude.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
A cheap and easy cynicism rails at everything. The master of the art accomplishes the formidable task of discrimination.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
Electricity is the power that causes all natural phenomena not known to be caused by something else
Ambrose Bierce
Image
EXTINCTION, n. The raw material out of which theology created the future state.
Ambrose Bierce
Image
UNITARIAN, n. One who denies the divinity of a Trinitarian.
Ambrose Bierce