Quotes by Ambrose Bierce

About Ambrose Bierce:

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist, and satirist. He wrote the short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and compiled a satirical lexicon, The Devil's Dictionary. His vehemence as a critic, his motto "Nothing matters", and the sardonic view of human nature that informed his work, all earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce".
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Love: A temporary insanity curable by marriage.

Ambrose Bierce

Women in love are less ashamed than men. They have less to be ashamed of.

Ambrose Bierce

Doubt, indulged and cherished, is in danger of becoming denial; but if honest, and bent on thorough investigation, it may soon lead to full establishment of the truth.

Ambrose Bierce

Friendless. Having no favors to bestow. Destitute of fortune. Addicted to utterance of truth and common sense.

Ambrose Bierce

Who never doubted, never half believed. Where doubt is, there truth is - it is her shadow.

Ambrose Bierce

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

Ambrose Bierce

Ocean: A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man - who has no gills.

Ambrose Bierce

Mayonnaise: One of the sauces which serve the French in place of a state religion.

Ambrose Bierce

Perseverance - a lowly virtue whereby mediocrity achieves an inglorious success.

Ambrose Bierce

Success is the one unpardonable sin against our fellows.

Ambrose Bierce

Land: A part of the earth's surface, considered as property. The theory that land is property subject to private ownership and control is the foundation of modern society, and is eminently worthy of the superstructure.

Ambrose Bierce

Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.

Ambrose Bierce

Inventor: A person who makes an ingenious arrangement of wheels, levers and springs, and believes it civilization.

Ambrose Bierce

Dawn: When men of reason go to bed.

Ambrose Bierce

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

Ambrose Bierce

Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly.

Ambrose Bierce

Marriage, n: the state or condition of a community consisting of a master, a mistress, and two slaves, making in all, two.

Ambrose Bierce

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

Ambrose Bierce

All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions is called a philosopher.

Ambrose Bierce

There are four kinds of Homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable, and praiseworthy.

Ambrose Bierce

Laziness. Unwarranted repose of manner in a person of low degree.

Ambrose Bierce

Author Bio

  • NameAmbrose Bierce
  • DescriptionAmerican editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist, and satirist
  • AliasesDod Grile; William Herman
  • BornJune 24, 1842
  • DiedDecember 26, 1913
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionWriter; Journalist; Aphorist; Poet
  • WorksAn Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge; The Damned Thing; The Devil's Dictionary