Dawn: When men of reason go to bed. Ambrose Bierce on men
Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt. Ambrose Bierce on men
Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly. Ambrose Bierce on mom
Architect. One who drafts a plan of your house, and plans a draft of your money. Ambrose Bierce on money
Ocean: A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man - who has no gills. Ambrose Bierce on nature
Religion. A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable. Ambrose Bierce on nature
Patience, n. A minor form of dispair, disguised as a virtue. Ambrose Bierce on patience
Meekness: Uncommon patience in planning a revenge that is worth while. Ambrose Bierce on patience
What this country needs what every country needs occasionally is a good hard bloody war to revive the vice of patriotism on which its existence as a nation depends. Ambrose Bierce on patriotism
Patriotism. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name. Ambrose Bierce on patriotism
Politics: A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. Ambrose Bierce on politics
Conservative, n: A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal who wishes to replace them with others. Ambrose Bierce on politics
Alliance - in international politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted in each other's pockets that they cannot separately plunder a third. Ambrose Bierce on politics
Revolution, n. In politics, an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment. Ambrose Bierce on politics
Consul - in American politics, a person who having failed to secure an office from the people is given one by the Administration on condition that he leave the country. Ambrose Bierce on politics
To be positive is to be mistaken at the top of one's voice. Ambrose Bierce on positive
Positive, adj.: Mistaken at the top of one's voice. Ambrose Bierce on positive
Vote: the instrument and symbol of a freeman's power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country. Ambrose Bierce on power
Beauty, n: the power by which a woman charms a lover and terrifies a husband. Ambrose Bierce on power
Clairvoyant, n.: A person, commonly a woman, who has the power of seeing that which is invisible to her patron - namely, that he is a blockhead. Ambrose Bierce on power