1,237 Quotes by Ambrose Bierce

DISOBEDIENCE, n. The silver lining to the cloud of servitude.

optimism, n. The doctrine, or belief, that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly, everything good, especially the bad, and everything right that is wrong. It is held with greatest tenacity by those most accustomed to the mischance of falling into adversity, and is most acceptably expounded with disproof - an intellectual disorder, yielding to no treatment but death. It is hereditary, but fortunately not contagious.

ARMY, n. A class of non-producers who defend the nation by devouring everything likely to tempt an enemy to invade.

BALLOON, n. A contrivance for larding the earth with the fat of fools.

Pessimism n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile.

IRRELIGION, n. The principal one of the great faiths of the world.

GUILLOTINE, n. A machine which makes a Frenchman shrug his shoulders with good reason.

Debt is an ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of the slavedriver.

He who ignores the law of probabilities challenges an adversary that is seldom beaten.