Martyr, n.

One who moves along the line of least reluctance to a desired death.
—  Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2014	You, Too!
2013	Bitter Stand
2012	Lost For Words
2011	On Market Reactions…

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History, n.

An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.
—  Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary”
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On This Day In:
2014	See It Sometime
2013	Precious Friend
2012	It Couldn’t Be Done
	Feeling Surrounded?
2011	Surprise!

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Pray, v.

To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy.
—  Ambrose Bierce
From:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
Our prayers are answered not when we are given what we ask, but when we are challenged to be what we can be.
—  Morris Adler
[For a prayer I used to say whenever I had a big decision looming, see:   The Para’s Prayer on my Poems page.  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2013	As I…
2012	But We Need Room
2011	A Definition Of Leadership

 

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Idiot, n.

A member of a large and powerful tribe whose influence in human affairs has always been dominant and controlling.
—    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2013	Temporary Reality
2012	The Great Objective
2011	Read A Book

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Destiny, n.

A tyrant’s authority for crime and a fool’s excuse for failure.
–    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2013	No Apologies
2012	Utterly Convinced
2011	A Key To Effectiveness

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Dawn, n.

The time when men of reason go to bed.  Certain old men prefer to rise at about that time, taking a cold bath and a long walk with an empty stomach, and otherwise mortifying the flesh.  They then point with pride to these practices as the cause of their sturdy health and ripe years; the truth being that they are hearty and old, not because of their habits, but in spite of them.  The reason we find only robust persons doing this thing is that it has killed all the others who have tried it.
–    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2013	Ouch!
2012	Just Lookin’ Around
	Still Growing
2011	But Do You Want To?

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Heathen, n.

A benighted creature who has the folly to worship something that he can see and feel.
—    Ambrose Bierce
From his book: “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2013	Wisdom’s Folly
2012	When The Student Is Ready
	Disconnected Leadership
2011	The Complex Richness Of Life

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Gravitation, n.

The tendency of all bodies to approach one another with a strength proportioned to the quantity of matter they contain – the quantity of matter they contain being ascertained by the strength of their tendency to approach one another.  This is a lovely and edifying illustration of how science, having made A proof of B, makes B the proof of A.
—    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2013	Ups And Downs
2012	Nerd Heard – And Good-Bye
	Your Continuum
2011	Career Tips (Part 2)

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Faith, n.

Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel.
–   Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2012	Surprise Me
2011	Confused With Truth

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Education, n.

That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding.
–   Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2012	Who I Want To Be
2011	Mythic Forgetfulness

 

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Eloquence, n.

The art of orally persuading fools that white is the color it appears to be.  It includes the gift of making any other color appear white.
–   Ambrose Bierce
From:   “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2012	Why Bother?
2011	Peculiar Notions

 

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Distance, n.

The only thing that the rich are willing for the poor to call theirs, and keep.
–   Ambrose Bierce
From: “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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On This Day In:
2012	Rise Up!
	The Gift
2011	Artful Courage
2010	A Handful of Lessons…

 

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April Fool, n.

The March fool with another month added to his folly.
—   Ambrose Bierce
From: “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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Coward, n.

One who in perilous emergency thinks with his legs.
—    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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Christian, n.

One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor.  One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.
—    Ambrose Bierce
From his book:  “The Devil’s Dictionary“
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