Compromise, n. Such an adjustment of conflicting interests as gives each adversary the satisfaction of thinking he has got what he ought not to have, and is deprived of nothing except what was justly his due. Ambrose Bierce More Quotes by Ambrose Bierce More Quotes From Ambrose Bierce Miss: A title with which we brand unmarried women to indicate that they are in the market. Miss, Misses (Mrs.) and Mister (Mr.) are the three most distinctly disagreeable words in the language, in sound and sense. Ambrose Bierce titles missing sound NOISE, n. A stench in the ear. Undomesticated music. The chief product and authenticating sign of civilization. Ambrose Bierce music silence civilization ACCOUNTABILITY, n. The mother of caution. Ambrose Bierce accountability motherhood mother You cannot adopt politics as a profession and remain honest. Ambrose Bierce libertarian liberty political Botany, n. The science of vegetables - those that are not good to eat, as well as those that are. It deals largely with their flowers, which are commonly badly designed, inartistic in color, and ill-smelling. Ambrose Bierce color flower vegetables ILLUSTRIOUS, adj. Suitably placed for the shafts of malice, envy and detraction. Ambrose Bierce malice envy ENVY, n. Emulation adapted to the meanest capacity. Ambrose Bierce emulation envy capacity A miracle is an act or event out of the order of nature and unaccountable, as beating a normal hand of four kings and an ace with four aces and a king. Ambrose Bierce nature kings hands The natural equipment to accomplish some small part of the meaner ambitions distinguishing able men from dead ones. In the last analysis ability is commonly found to consist mainly in a high degree of solemnity. Ambrose Bierce degrees ambition men Uncommon extension of the fear of death. Ambrose Bierce uncommon aging fear-of-death 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. Ambrose Bierce rewards citizens justice WHEAT, n. A cereal from which a tolerably good whisky can be made; . . . also for bread. The French are said to eat more bread "per capita" of population than any other people, which is natural, for only they know how to make the stuff palatable. Ambrose Bierce cereal food people HURRICANE, n. An atmospheric demonstration once very common but now generally abandoned for the tornado and cyclone. The hurricane is still in popular use in the West Indies and is preferred by certain old- fashioned sea-captains. Ambrose Bierce west-indies sea science MUMMY, n. - an ancient Egyptian handy, too, in museums in gratifying the vulgar curiosity that serves to distinguish man from the lower animals. Ambrose Bierce animal men museums SIREN, n. One of several musical prodigies famous for a vain attempt to dissuade Odysseus from a life on the ocean wave. Figuratively, any lady of splendid promise, dissembled purpose and disappointing performance. Ambrose Bierce musical ocean life MALTHUSIAN, adj. Pertaining to Malthus and his doctrines, who believed in artificially limiting population, but found that it could not be done by talking. Herod of Judea, all the famous soldiers have been practical exponents of the Malthusian idea. Ambrose Bierce soldier talking ideas INFALAPSARIAN, n. One who ventures to believe that Adam need not have sinned unless he had a mind to - in opposition to the Supralapsarians, who hold that that luckless person's fall was decreed from the beginning. Ambrose Bierce mind believe fall BEG, v. To ask for something with an earnestness proportioned to the belief that it will not be given. Ambrose Bierce asks given belief HARMONISTS, n. A sect of Protestants, now extinct, who came from Europe in the beginning of the last century and were distinguished for the bitterness of their internal controversies and dissensions. Ambrose Bierce bitterness lasts europe AFFLICTION, n. An acclimatizing process preparing the soul for another and bitter world. Ambrose Bierce affliction soul world
