Year: A period of three hundred and sixty-five disappointments. Ambrose Bierce More Quotes by Ambrose Bierce More Quotes From Ambrose Bierce A person who doubts himself is like a man who would enlist in the ranks of his enemies and bear arms agains himself. He makes his failure certain by himself being the first person to be convinced of it. Ambrose Bierce failure success inspiring ARMOR, n. The kind of clothing worn by a man whose tailor is a blacksmith. Ambrose Bierce tailors kindness men PRESIDENCY, n. The greased pig in the field game of American politics. Ambrose Bierce politics games pigs Bore, n. A person who talks when you wish him to listen. Ambrose Bierce listening-to-others effective-listening bores-you An ingenious compound of desirability and appearance. Discovery of truth is the sole purpose of philosophy, which is the most ancient occupation of the human mind and has a fair prospect of existing with increasing activity to the end of time. Ambrose Bierce truth time philosophy URBANITY, n. The kind of civility that urban observers ascribe to dwellers in all cities but New York. Its commonest expression is heard in the words, "I beg your pardon," and it is not consistent with disregard of the rights of others. Ambrose Bierce expression new-york rights They say that hens do cackle loudest when there is nothing vital in the eggs they have laid. Ambrose Bierce hens vanity eggs Evolutionary biology is genuinely scientific, but more than that it opens the door to a world more marvellous than any Christian fundamentalist has ever read into the pages of the Bible. Ambrose Bierce christian doors world Coward: One who, in a perilous emergency, thinks with his legs. Ambrose Bierce sarcastic courage peace Religions are conclusions for which the facts of nature supply no major premises. Ambrose Bierce dying religious death Inventor: A person who makes an ingenious arrangement of wheels, levers and springs, and believes it civilization. Ambrose Bierce spring science believe Bride: A woman with a fine prospect of happiness behind her. Ambrose Bierce wedding marriage happiness If you want to read a perfect book there is only one way: write it. Ambrose Bierce perfect writing book POLITICIAN, n. An eel in the fundamental mud upon which the superstructure of organized society is reared. When he wriggles, he mistakes the agitation of his tail for the trembling of the edifice. Ambrose Bierce agitation eels mistake Rum, n. Generically, fiery liquors that produce madness in total abstainers. Ambrose Bierce madness cooking food To the eye of failure success is an accident. Ambrose Bierce success-failure accidents eye To bother about the best method of accomplishing an accidental result. Ambrose Bierce planning results science Doubt is the father of invention. Ambrose Bierce stupidity doubt father NIRVANA- In the Buddhist religion, a state of pleasurable annihilation awarded to the wise, particularly to those wise enough to understand it. Ambrose Bierce buddhist wise religion Pantheism, n. Ambrose Bierce pantheism doctrine
