Ambrose Bierce has been missing since 1913. He was a Union officer during the war between the states, but kind of limited by traumatic brain injury and asthma. After leaving the army, he earned a living by writing. Some of his writings still seem relevant over a century later. It’s amazing how many Bierce quotes we read or heat
Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
A nation that will not enforce its laws has no claim to the respect and allegiance of its people.
Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.
An election is nothing more than the advanced auction of stolen goods.
God alone knows the future, but only an historian can alter the past.
Be as decent as you can. Don’t believe without evidence. Treat things divine with marked respect — don’t have anything to do with them. Do not trust humanity without collateral security; it will play you some scurvy trick. Remember that it hurts no one to be treated as an enemy entitled to respect until he shall prove himself a friend worthy of affection. Cultivate a taste for distasteful truths. And, finally, most important of all, endeavor to see things as they are, not as they ought to be.
War is God’s way of teaching Americans geography.
Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.
Friendless. Having no favors to bestow. Destitute of fortune. Addicted to utterance of truth and common sense.
Democracy is defended in 3 stages. Ballot Box, Jury Box, Cartridge Box.
We submit to the majority because we have to. But we are not compelled to call our attitude of subjection a posture of respect.
The covers of this book are too far apart.
The only distinction that democracies reward is a high degree of conformity.
In our civilization, and under our republican form of government, intelligence is so highly honored that it is rewarded by exemption from the cares of office.
What is a democrat? One who believes that the republicans have ruined the country. What is a republican? One who believes that the democrats would ruin the country.
Homicide, /n./ The slaying of one human by another. There are four kinds of homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable, and praiseworthy, but it makes no great difference to the person slain whether he died by one kind or another – the classification is for the advantage of the lawyers.
If you happen to locate Bierce, it would be good to see what observations he made since 1913.
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