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  • Ambrose Bierce Quotes   976
  • PERFECTION, n. An imaginary state of quality distinguished from the actual by an element known as excellence; an attribute of the critic. The editor of an English magazine having received a letter pointing out the erroneous nature of his views and style, and signed "Perfection," promptly wrote at the foot of the letter: "I don't agree with you," and mailed it to Matthew Arnold.
  • 5 years ago



    Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Views Quotes , Editors Quotes
  • TEDIUM, n. Ennui, the state or condition of one that is bored. Many fanciful derivations of the word have been affirmed, but so high an authority as Father Jape says that it comes from a very obvious source --the first words of the ancient Latin hymn _Te Deum Laudamus_. In this apparently natural derivation there is something that saddens.
  • 5 years ago



    Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Father Quotes , Latin Quotes
  • PLATITUDE, n. The fundamental element and special glory of popular literature. A thought that snores in words that smoke. All that is mortal of a departed truth. A jelly-fish withering on the shore of the sea of thought. A desiccated epigram.
  • 5 years ago



    Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Truth Quotes , Sea Quotes
  • MAN, n. An animal so lost in rapturous contemplation of what he thinks he is as to overlook what he indubitably ought to be. His chief occupation is extermination of other animals and his own species, which, however, multiplies with such insistent rapidity as to infest the whole habitable earth and Canada.
  • 5 years ago



    Tags : Ambrose Bierce Quotes , Animal Quotes , Men Quotes