Ambrose Bierce Quotes

acquaintance, n.: A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to.

Youth, n. The Period of Possibility, when Archimedes finds a fulcrum, Cassandra has a following and seven cities compete for the honor of endowing a living Homer.

Conversation: A fair for the display of the minor mental commodities, each exhibitor being too intent upon the arrangement of his own wares to observe those of his neighbor.

The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog.

In Bacon we see the culminating prime
Of British intellect and British crime.

Ambition, n. An overmastering desire to be vilified by enemies while living and made ridiculous by friends when dead.

As a means of dispensing formulated ignorance our boasted public school system is not without merit; it spreads out education sufficiently thin to give everyone enough to make him a more competent fool than he would have been without it...

We know no more than the ancients; we only know other things, but nothing in which is an assurance of perpetuity, and little that is truly wisdom.

Education, n. That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding.

AFFIANCED, pp. Fitted with an ankle-ring for the ball-and-chain.

Connoisseur, n. A specialist who knows everything about something and nothing about anything else.

Camino, s. Faja de tierra que permite ir de donde uno está cansado a donde es inútil ir.

He who ignores the law of probabilities challenges an adversary that is seldom beaten.

"LIFE, n. A spiritual pickle preserving the body from decay. We live in daily apprehension of its loss; yet when lost it is not missed. The question, "Is life worth living?" has been much discussed; particularly by those who think it is not, many of whom have written at great length in support of their view and by careful observance of the laws of health enjoyed for long terms of years the honors of successful controversy."

Her locks an ancient lady gave
Her loving husband's life to save;
And men — they honored so the dame — Upon some stars bestowed her name.
But to our modern married fair,
Who'd give their lords to save their hair,
No stellar recognition's given.
There are not stars enough in heaven.