Read books online
at our other site:
The Literature Page

Quotation Search

To search for quotations, enter a phrase to search for in the quotation, a whole or partial author name, or both. Also specify the collections to search in below. See the Search Instructions for details.

Results of search for Author: Ambrose Bierce - Page 19 of 100 Showing results 181 to 190 of 993 total quotations found.
<- Previous Page	Pages: ... 16 17 18 19 20 21 22...	Next Page ->

Results from The Devil's Dictionary (Ambrose Bierce):

CENTAUR, n. One of a race of persons who lived before the division of labor had been carried to such a pitch of differentiation, and who followed the primitive economic maxim, "Every man his own horse." The best of the lot was Chiron, who to the wisdom and virtues of the horse added the fleetness of man. The scripture story of the head of John the Baptist on a charger shows that pagan myths have somewhat sophisticated sacred history.: Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil's Dictionary
CERBERUS, n. The watch-dog of Hades, whose duty it was to guard the entrance -- against whom or what does not clearly appear; everybody, sooner or later, had to go there, and nobody wanted to carry off the entrance. Cerberus is known to have had three heads, and some of the poets have credited him with as many as a hundred. Professor Graybill, whose clerky erudition and profound knowledge of Greek give his opinion great weight, has averaged all the estimates, and makes the number twenty-seven -- a judgment that would be entirely conclusive is Professor Graybill had known (a) something about dogs, and (b) something about arithmetic.: Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil's Dictionary
CHILDHOOD, n. The period of human life intermediate between the idiocy of infancy and the folly of youth -- two removes from the sin of manhood and three from the remorse of age.: Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil's Dictionary
CHRISTIAN, n. One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin. I dreamed I stood upon a hill, and, lo! The godly multitudes walked to and fro Beneath, in Sabbath garments fitly clad, With pious mien, appropriately sad, While all the church bells made a solemn din -- A fire-alarm to those who lived in sin. Then saw I gazing thoughtfully below, With tranquil face, upon that holy show A tall, spare figure in a robe of white, Whose eyes diffused a melancholy light. "God keep you, strange," I exclaimed. "You are No doubt (your habit shows it) from afar; And yet I entertain the hope that you, Like these good people, are a Christian too." He raised his eyes and with a look so stern It made me with a thousand blushes burn Replied -- his manner with disdain was spiced: "What! I a Christian? No, indeed! I'm Christ." G.J.: Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil's Dictionary
CIRCUS, n. A place where horses, ponies and elephants are permitted to see men, women and children acting the fool.: Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil's Dictionary
CLARIONET, n. An instrument of torture operated by a person with cotton in his ears. There are two instruments that are worse than a clarionet -- two clarionets.: Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil's Dictionary
CLERGYMAN, n. A man who undertakes the management of our spiritual affairs as a method of better his temporal ones.: Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil's Dictionary
CLIO, n. One of the nine Muses. Clio's function was to preside over history -- which she did with great dignity, many of the prominent citizens of Athens occupying seats on the platform, the meetings being addressed by Messrs. Xenophon, Herodotus and other popular speakers.: Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil's Dictionary
CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time remains to him. A busy man complained one day: "I get no time!" "What's that you say?" Cried out his friend, a lazy quiz; "You have, sir, all the time there is. There's plenty, too, and don't you doubt it -- We're never for an hour without it." Purzil Crofe: Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil's Dictionary
CLOSE-FISTED, adj. Unduly desirous of keeping that which many meritorious persons wish to obtain. "Close-fisted Scotchman!" Johnson cried To thrifty J. Macpherson; "See me -- I'm ready to divide With any worthy person." Sad Jamie: "That is very true -- The boast requires no backing; And all are worthy, sir, to you, Who have what you are lacking." Anita M. Bobe: Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil's Dictionary

<- Previous Page	Pages: ... 16 17 18 19 20 21 22...	Next Page ->
Results of search for Author: Ambrose Bierce - Page 19 of 100 Showing results 181 to 190 of 993 total quotations found.

Can't find what you're looking for? Try browsing our list of quotations by subject..