The Devil's Dictionary Quotes

“HISTORY, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.”

― Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

topic:history

“CORPORATION, n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility.”

― Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

topic:responsibility

“DICTIONARY, n. A malevolent literary device for cramping the growth of a language and making it hard and inelastic.”

― Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

topic:language

“PRAY, v. To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy.”

― Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

topic:universe

“PATRIOTISM, n. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name.”

― Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

topic:ambition

“An absolute monarchy is one in which the sovereign does as he pleases so long as he pleases the assassins.”

― Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

topic:tyranny