Present, n. That part of eternity dividing the domain of disappointment from the realm of hope.

Quote by Ambrose Bierce

Topics: Ambrose Bierce Quotes

MUMMY, n. An ancient Egyptian, formerly in universal use among modern civilized nations as medicine,...

MUMMY, n. An ancient Egyptian, formerly in universal use among modern civilized nations as medicine,...

Deliberation, n.: The act of examining one's bread to determine which side it is buttered...

Deliberation, n.: The act of examining one's bread to determine which side it is buttered...

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...

Confidante: One entrusted by A with the secrets of B confided to herself by C.

Confidante: One entrusted by A with the secrets of B confided to herself by C.

A revolution, in politics, is an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment. The substitution...

A revolution, in politics, is an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment. The substitution...

Philosophy: A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing.

Philosophy: A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing.

Pray: To ask the laws of the universe to be annulled on behalf of a...

Pray: To ask the laws of the universe to be annulled on behalf of a...

Happiness: an agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of another.

Happiness: an agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of another.

COMMERCE, n. A kind of transaction in which A plunders from B the goods of...

COMMERCE, n. A kind of transaction in which A plunders from B the goods of...

Coward: One who, in a perilous emergency, thinks with his legs.

Coward: One who, in a perilous emergency, thinks with his legs.

REVELATION, n. A famous book in which St. John the Divine concealed all that he...

REVELATION, n. A famous book in which St. John the Divine concealed all that he...

FUNERAL, n. A pageant whereby we attest our respect for the dead by enriching the...

FUNERAL, n. A pageant whereby we attest our respect for the dead by enriching the...

Barometer, n.: An ingenious instrument which indicates what kind of weather we are having.

Barometer, n.: An ingenious instrument which indicates what kind of weather we are having.

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...

Optimism: The doctrine that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly, everything good, especially the...

Optimism: The doctrine that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly, everything good, especially the...

Electricity is the power that causes all natural phenomena not known to be caused by...

Electricity is the power that causes all natural phenomena not known to be caused by...

Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of...

Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of...

Religion. A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.

Religion. A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.

Were the purportings of the Bible to be a revelation false, it would still be...

Were the purportings of the Bible to be a revelation false, it would still be...

For when established identities become outworn or unfinished ones threaten to remain incomplete, special crises...

For when established identities become outworn or unfinished ones threaten to remain incomplete, special crises...