Politeness, n: The most acceptable hypocrisy.

Quote by Ambrose Bierce

Topics: Ambrose Bierce Quotes

Inventor: A person who makes an ingenious arrangement of wheels, levers and springs, and believes...

Inventor: A person who makes an ingenious arrangement of wheels, levers and springs, and believes...

Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making...

Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making...

INSURRECTION, n. An unsuccessful revolution. Disaffection's failure to substitute misrule for bad government.

INSURRECTION, n. An unsuccessful revolution. Disaffection's failure to substitute misrule for bad government.

Liberty: One of Imagination's most precious possessions.

Liberty: One of Imagination's most precious possessions.

Experience is a revelation in the light of which we renounce our errors of youth...

Experience is a revelation in the light of which we renounce our errors of youth...

INFLUENCE, n. In politics, a visionary _quo_ given in exchange for a substantial _quid_.

INFLUENCE, n. In politics, a visionary _quo_ given in exchange for a substantial _quid_.

TRUST, n. In American politics, a large corporation composed in greater part of thrifty working...

TRUST, n. In American politics, a large corporation composed in greater part of thrifty working...

Genius - to know without having learned; to draw just conclusions from unknown premises; to...

Genius - to know without having learned; to draw just conclusions from unknown premises; to...

The small part of ignorance that we arrange and classify we give the name of...

The small part of ignorance that we arrange and classify we give the name of...

Egotist: a person more interested in himself than in me.

Egotist: a person more interested in himself than in me.

Pain: an uncomfortable frame of mind that may have a physical basis in something that...

Pain: an uncomfortable frame of mind that may have a physical basis in something that...

Heaven lies about us in our infancy and the world begins lying about us pretty...

Heaven lies about us in our infancy and the world begins lying about us pretty...

Immortality: A toy which people cry for, And on their knees apply for, Dispute, contend...

Immortality: A toy which people cry for, And on their knees apply for, Dispute, contend...

Revolution is an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment.

Revolution is an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment.

Ambition. An overmastering desire to be vilified by enemies while living and made ridiculous by...

Ambition. An overmastering desire to be vilified by enemies while living and made ridiculous by...

Doubt, indulged and cherished, is in danger of becoming denial; but if honest, and bent...

Doubt, indulged and cherished, is in danger of becoming denial; but if honest, and bent...

LEVIATHAN, n. An enormous aquatic animal mentioned by Job. Some suppose it to have been...

LEVIATHAN, n. An enormous aquatic animal mentioned by Job. Some suppose it to have been...

I never said all Democrats were saloonkeepers. What I said was that all saloonkeepers are...

I never said all Democrats were saloonkeepers. What I said was that all saloonkeepers are...

(Democracy is a government) of the fools, for the fools, by the fools.

(Democracy is a government) of the fools, for the fools, by the fools.

Democracy means despair of finding any heroes to govern you, and contented putting up with...

Democracy means despair of finding any heroes to govern you, and contented putting up with...

Politics is the reflex of the business and industrial world.

Politics is the reflex of the business and industrial world.