Famous Ambrose Bierce Quotes

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

  • Inhumanity, n. One of the signal and characteristic qualities of humanity. – Ambrose Bierce

    Inhumanity, n. One of the signal and characteristic qualities of humanity.– Ambrose Bierce

  • God alone knows the future, but only an historian can alter the past. – Ambrose Bierce

    God alone knows the future, but only an historian can alter the past.– Ambrose Bierce

  • BELLADONNA, n. In Italian a beautiful lady; in English a deadly poison. A striking example of the essential identity of the two tongues. – Ambrose Bierce

    BELLADONNA, n. In Italian a beautiful lady; in English a deadly poison. A striking example of the essential identity of the two tongues.– Ambrose Bierce

  • You are not permitted to kill a woman who has wronged you, but nothing forbids you to reflect that she is growing older every minute. – Ambrose Bierce

    You are not permitted to kill a woman who has wronged you, but nothing forbids you to reflect that she is growing older every minute.– Ambrose Bierce

  • GRAPESHOT, n. An argument which the future is preparing in answer to the demands of American Socialism. – Ambrose Bierce

    GRAPESHOT, n. An argument which the future is preparing in answer to the demands of American Socialism.– Ambrose Bierce

  • POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. – Ambrose Bierce

    POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.– Ambrose Bierce

  • AMNESTY, n. The state’s magnanimity to those offenders whom it would be too expensive to punish. – Ambrose Bierce

    AMNESTY, n. The state’s magnanimity to those offenders whom it would be too expensive to punish.– Ambrose Bierce

  • diplomacy, n.: The patriotic art of lying for one’s country. – Ambrose Bierce

    diplomacy, n.: The patriotic art of lying for one’s country.– Ambrose Bierce