1,237 Quotes by Ambrose Bierce

MAMMON, n. The god of the world's leading religion. The chief temple is in the holy city of New York.

One engaged in a commercial pursuit. A commercial pursuit is one in which the thing pursued is a dollar.

PLUNDER, v. To take the property of another without observing the decent and customary reticences of theft. To wrest the wealth of A from B and leave C lamenting a vanishing opportunity.

PARDON, v. To remit a penalty and restore to the life of crime. To add to the lure of crime the temptation of ingratitude.

Justice is a commodity which in a more or less adulterated condition the State sells to the citizen as a reward for his allegiance, taxes and personal service.

Ardor, n. The quality that distinguishes love without knowledge.

Politeness, n: The most acceptable hypocrisy.

We must stop chasing dollars, stop lying, stop cheating, stop ignoring art, literature, and all the refining agencies and instrumentalities of civilization.

repose, v.i. To cease from troubling.