5 Ambrose Bierce Quotes on History

Ambrose Bierce quotes on history

13. Bacchus, n. A convenient deity invented by the ancients as an excuse for getting drunk.

36. Freebooter, n. A conqueror in a small way of business, whose annexations lack of the sanctifying merit of magnitude.

37. Freemason, n. An order with secret rites, grotesque ceremonies and fantastic costumes, which, originating in the reign of Charles II, among working artisans of London, has been joined successively by the dead of past centuries in unbroken retrogression until now it embraces all the generations of man on the hither side of Adam and is drumming up distinguished recruits among the pre-Creational inhabitants of Chaos and Formless Void. The order was founded at different times by Charlemagne, Julius Caesar, Cyrus, Solomon, Zoroaster, Confucious, Thothmes, and Buddha.

39. Generous, adj. Originally this word meant noble by birth and was rightly applied to a great multitude of persons. It now means noble by nature and is taking a bit of a rest.

40. Genealogy, n. An account of one's descent from an ancestor who did not particularly care to trace his own.