Bacchus, n.: A convenient deity invented by the ancients as an excuse for getting drunk.

Quote by Ambrose Bierce

Topics: Ambrose Bierce Quotes

To be positive is to be mistaken at the top of one's voice.

To be positive is to be mistaken at the top of one's voice.

The hardest tumble a man can make is to fall over his own bluff.

The hardest tumble a man can make is to fall over his own bluff.

RIBROASTER, n. Censorious language by oneself concerning another. The word is of classical refinement, and...

RIBROASTER, n. Censorious language by oneself concerning another. The word is of classical refinement, and...

ACQUAINTANCE, n. A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well...

ACQUAINTANCE, n. A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well...

Ability is commonly found to consist mainly in a high degree of solemnity.

Ability is commonly found to consist mainly in a high degree of solemnity.

Patriotism. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name.

Patriotism. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name.

The slightest acquaintance with history shows that powerful republics are the most warlike and unscrupulous...

The slightest acquaintance with history shows that powerful republics are the most warlike and unscrupulous...

Revolution is an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment.

Revolution is an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment.

Dawn: When men of reason go to bed.

Dawn: When men of reason go to bed.

QUOTIENT, n. A number showing how many times a sum of money belonging to one...

QUOTIENT, n. A number showing how many times a sum of money belonging to one...

Laughter is an interior convulsion, producing a distortion of the features and accompanied by inarticulate...

Laughter is an interior convulsion, producing a distortion of the features and accompanied by inarticulate...

Absence blots people out. We really have no absent friends.

Absence blots people out. We really have no absent friends.

OLD, adj. In that stage of usefulness which is not inconsistent with general inefficiency, as...

OLD, adj. In that stage of usefulness which is not inconsistent with general inefficiency, as...

Dawn: When men of reason go to bed.

Dawn: When men of reason go to bed.

Quotation, n: The act of repeating erroneously the words of another.

Quotation, n: The act of repeating erroneously the words of another.

Patriotism is as fierce as a fever, pitiless as the grave, blind as a stone,...

Patriotism is as fierce as a fever, pitiless as the grave, blind as a stone,...

Duty - that which sternly impels us in the direction of profit, along the line...

Duty - that which sternly impels us in the direction of profit, along the line...

Divorce: a resumption of diplomatic relations and rectification of boundaries.

Divorce: a resumption of diplomatic relations and rectification of boundaries.

The gambling known as business looks with austere disfavor upon the business known as gambling.

The gambling known as business looks with austere disfavor upon the business known as gambling.

Genealogy, n. An account of one's descent from a man who did not particularly care...

Genealogy, n. An account of one's descent from a man who did not particularly care...