Ambrose Bierce: Quotes and Life Insights Filled with Wit and Irony
Who Was Ambrose Bierce?
Ambrose Bierce (1842–disappeared 1914) was an American journalist, satirist, and author best known for his razor-sharp wit, dark humor, and biting social commentary. His most famous work, The Devil’s Dictionary, showcases his cynical view of politics, religion, and human nature. Bierce’s mysterious disappearance in Mexico only added to the intrigue surrounding his life and work.
Top 20 Best Quotes by Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce’s quotes are rich in irony, sarcasm, and philosophical depth. Below are 20 of his most memorable lines.
1. “Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.”
2. “The future is that period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true, and our happiness is assured.”
3. “An egotist is a person of low taste—more interested in himself than in me.”
4. “War is God’s way of teaching Americans geography.”
5. “Conservative: A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the liberal who wishes to replace them with others.”
6. “A bore is a person who talks when you wish him to listen.”
7. “Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility.”
8. “Cynic: A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.”
9. “Alliance: In international politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted in each other’s pockets that they cannot separately plunder a third.”
10. “History: An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.”
11. “Patience: A minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue.”
12. “Religion: A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.”
13. “Love: A temporary insanity curable by marriage.”
14. “Vote: The instrument and symbol of a freeman’s power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.”
15. “Quotation: The act of repeating erroneously the words of another.”
16. “Education: That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding.”
17. “Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel.”
18. “Politics: A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.”
19. “Revolution: An abrupt change in the form of misgovernment.”
20. “Peace: In international affairs, a period of cheating between two periods of fighting.”
Life Lessons from Ambrose Bierce
- Question everything: Bierce encouraged skepticism, especially of politics, institutions, and public figures.
- Value intelligence over blind belief: His satire challenges people to think critically rather than accept things at face value.
- Embrace dark humor: Even grim truths can be expressed with wit and sharp commentary.
- Be fearless in expression: Bierce was unafraid to say what others only thought, even when it made him enemies.
Final Thoughts
Ambrose Bierce remains a literary icon for those who appreciate truth cloaked in wit and satire. His legacy lives on through quotes that still sting, amuse, and provoke thought. Whether you admire his courage or critique his cynicism, there’s no denying the timeless relevance of his words.