Politeness, n: The most acceptable hypocrisy.

Quote by Ambrose Bierce

Topics: Ambrose Bierce Quotes

LAOCOON, n. A famous piece of antique scripture representing a priest of that name and...

LAOCOON, n. A famous piece of antique scripture representing a priest of that name and...

A bride is a woman with a fine prospect of happiness behind her.

A bride is a woman with a fine prospect of happiness behind her.

Opportunity is a favorable occasion for grasping a disappointment.

Opportunity is a favorable occasion for grasping a disappointment.

Reconsider, v. To seek a justification for a decision already made.

Reconsider, v. To seek a justification for a decision already made.

TROGLODYTE, n. Specifically, a cave-dweller of the paleolithic period, after the Tree and before the...

TROGLODYTE, n. Specifically, a cave-dweller of the paleolithic period, after the Tree and before the...

Trial. A formal inquiry designed to prove and put upon record the blameless characters of...

Trial. A formal inquiry designed to prove and put upon record the blameless characters of...

Rum, n. Generically, fiery liquors that produce madness in total abstainers.

Rum, n. Generically, fiery liquors that produce madness in total abstainers.

Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to...

Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to...

Kindness is a brief preface to ten volumes of exaction.

Kindness is a brief preface to ten volumes of exaction.

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...

Tenacity is a certain quality of the human hand in its relation to the coin...

Tenacity is a certain quality of the human hand in its relation to the coin...

Tariff: a scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the...

Tariff: a scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the...

Optimism - the doctrine or belief that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly.

Optimism - the doctrine or belief that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly.

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...

Infidel: In New York, one who does not believe in the Christian religion; in Constantinople,...

Infidel: In New York, one who does not believe in the Christian religion; in Constantinople,...

Abstainer: a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.

Abstainer: a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.

DOG, n. A kind of additional or subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and...

DOG, n. A kind of additional or subsidiary Deity designed to catch the overflow and...

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.

Sabbath - a weekly festival having its origin in the fact that God made the...

Sabbath - a weekly festival having its origin in the fact that God made the...

Architect. One who drafts a plan of your house, and plans a draft of your...

Architect. One who drafts a plan of your house, and plans a draft of your...