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K, n. A consonant originally precisely that of our H, but altered to its present shape to commemorate the destruction of [one of two lofty columns in] the great temple of Jarute.

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
Great
Temple
Temples
Consonant
Precisely
Commemorate
Shape
Consonants
Destruction
Columns
Shapes
Originally
Present
Lofty
Two
Altered

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Congratulations is the civility of envy.
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PALM, n. A species of tree . . . of which the familiar itching palm (Palma hominis) is most widely distributed . . . . This noble vegetable exudes a kind of invisible gum, which may be detected by applying to the bark a piece of gold or silver.
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NON-COMBATANT, n. A dead Quaker.
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Childhood: the period of human life intermediate between the idiocy of infancy and the folly of youth - two removes from the sin of manhood and three from the remorse of age.
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resolute, adj. Obstinate in a course that we approve.
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Revelation: a famous book in which St. John the Divine concealed all that he knew. The revealing is done by the commentators, who know nothing.
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ARMOR, n. The kind of clothing worn by a man whose tailor is a blacksmith.
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INK, n. A villainous compound of tannogallate of iron, gum-arabic, and water, chiefly used to facilitate the infection of idiocy and promote intellectual crime.
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A total abstainer is one who abstains from everything but abstention, and especially from inactivity in the affairs of others.
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Conservative, n: A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal who wishes to replace them with others.
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NOTORIETY, n. The fame of one's competitor for public honors. The kind of renown most accessible and acceptable to mediocrity. A Jacob's-ladder leading to the vaudeville stage, with angels ascending and descending.
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Eulogy. Praise of a person who has either the advantages of wealth and power, or the consideration to be dead.
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Fashion, n. A despot whom the wise ridicule and obey.
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RACK, n. An argumentative implement formerly much used in persuading devotees of a false faith to embrace the living truth. As a call to the unconverted the rack never had any particular efficacy, and is now held in light popular esteem.
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When lost in a forest go always down hill. When lost in a philosophy or doctrine go upward.
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Alligator: The crocodile of America, superior in every detail to the crocodile of the effete monarchies of the Old World.
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TEETOTALER, n. One who abstains from strong drink, sometimes totally, sometimes tolerably totally.
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History is an account, mostly false, of events, mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers, mostly knaves, and soldiers, mostly fools.
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INFALAPSARIAN, n. One who ventures to believe that Adam need not have sinned unless he had a mind to - in opposition to the Supralapsarians, who hold that that luckless person's fall was decreed from the beginning.
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PRISON, n. A place of punishments and rewards. The poet assures us that - stone walls do not a prison make.
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