Literary Birthday – 24 June – Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Bierce was born 24 June 1842 and died circa 1914.

10 Quotes

Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.
If you want to read a perfect book there is only one way: write it.
Slang is the speech of him who robs the literary garbage carts on their way to the dump.
He who thinks with difficulty believes with alacrity. A fool is a natural proselyte, but he must be caught young, for his convictions, unlike those of the wise, harden with age.
Future, n. That period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true and our happiness is assured.
History, n. an account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers, mostly knaves, and soldiers, mostly fools.
Marriage, n. The state or condition of a community consisting of a master, a mistress and two slaves, making in all, two.
Egotist, n. A person of low taste, more interested in himself than in me.
Corporation, n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility.
Youth looks forward, for nothing is behind! Age backward, for nothing is before.

Ambrose Bierce was an American editorialist, journalist, short-story writer, and satirist. He is best known for his short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, and his satirical dictionary, The Devil’s Dictionary.