“His act was rather that of a harmless lunatic than an enemy. We were not so new to the country as not to know that the solitary life of many a plainsman had a tendency to develop eccentricities of conduct and character not always easily distinguishable from mental aberration. A man is like a tree: in a forest of his fellows he will grow as straight as his generic and individual nature permits; alone, in the open, he yields to the deforming stresses and tortions that environ him.”
Ambrose Bierce“All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher.”
Ambrose Bierce, The Collected Writings Of Ambrose Bierce“You scoundrel, you have wronged me," hissed the philosopher, "May you live forever!”
Ambrose Bierce, A Cynic Looks at Life by Ambrose Bierce, Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Classics“Lawsuit: A machine which you go into as a pig and come out of as a sausage.”
Ambrose Bierce“Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.”
Ambrose Bierce“Perseverance - a lowly virtue whereby mediocrity achieves an inglorious success.”
Ambrose Bierce“Education, n.: That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding.”
Ambrose Bierce“Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly.”
Ambrose Bierce