USAGE, n. The First Person of the literary Trinity, the Second and Third being Custom and Conventionality. Imbued with a decent reverence for this Holy Triad an industrious writer may hope to produce books that will live as long as…

Quote by Ambrose Bierce

Topics: Books Quotes

SAFETY-CLUTCH, n. A mechanical device acting automatically to prevent the fall of an elevator, or...

SAFETY-CLUTCH, n. A mechanical device acting automatically to prevent the fall of an elevator, or...

WASHINGTONIAN, n. A Potomac tribesman who exchanged the privilege of governing himself for the advantage...

WASHINGTONIAN, n. A Potomac tribesman who exchanged the privilege of governing himself for the advantage...

Beauty, n: the power by which a woman charms a lover and terrifies a husband.

Beauty, n: the power by which a woman charms a lover and terrifies a husband.

ADMINISTRATION, n. An ingenious abstraction in politics, designed to receive the kicks and cuffs due...

ADMINISTRATION, n. An ingenious abstraction in politics, designed to receive the kicks and cuffs due...

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...

Work: a dangerous disorder affecting high public functionaries who want to go fishing

Work: a dangerous disorder affecting high public functionaries who want to go fishing

Experience - the wisdom that enables us to recognise in an undesirable old acquaintance the...

Experience - the wisdom that enables us to recognise in an undesirable old acquaintance the...

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...

MALTHUSIAN, adj. Pertaining to Malthus and his doctrines. Malthus believed in artificially limiting population, but...

MALTHUSIAN, adj. Pertaining to Malthus and his doctrines. Malthus believed in artificially limiting population, but...

OUTCOME, n. A particular type of disappointment. By the kind of intelligence that sees in...

OUTCOME, n. A particular type of disappointment. By the kind of intelligence that sees in...

ADVICE, n. The smallest current coin. The man was in such deep distress, Said Tom,...

ADVICE, n. The smallest current coin. The man was in such deep distress, Said Tom,...

Admiral. That part of a warship which does the talking while the figurehead does the...

Admiral. That part of a warship which does the talking while the figurehead does the...

History is an account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by...

History is an account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by...

Heaven: A place where the wicked cease from troubling you with talk of their personal...

Heaven: A place where the wicked cease from troubling you with talk of their personal...

Politeness, n: The most acceptable hypocrisy.

Politeness, n: The most acceptable hypocrisy.

Cabbage: a familiar kitchen-garden vegetable about as large and wise as a man's head.

Cabbage: a familiar kitchen-garden vegetable about as large and wise as a man's head.

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...

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

The reduction of the universe to a single being, the expansion of a single being...

The reduction of the universe to a single being, the expansion of a single being...

Idiosyncratic belief systems which are shared by only a few adherents are likely to be...

Idiosyncratic belief systems which are shared by only a few adherents are likely to be...