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Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)

Book by Ambrose Bierce · 9 quotes · Men, Science, Humour

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Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated) Quotes

“HIBERNATE, v. i. To pass the winter season in domestic seclusion. There have been many singular popular notions about the hibernation of various animals. Many believe that the bear hibernates during the whole winter and subsists by mechanically sucking its paws. It is admitted that it comes out of its retirement in the spring so lean that it has to try twice before it can cast a shadow.”

TryingBelieveHas BeensWholeScienceAnimalHumourBearsSpringShadowSeasonsNotionWinterCastsVariousRetirementPawsSeclusionWinter SeasonHibernation
Book:Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)
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“LEAD, n. A heavy blue-gray metal much used ... as a counterpoise to an argument of such weight that it turns the scale of debate the wrong way. An interesting fact in the chemistry of international controversy is that at the point of contact of two patriotisms lead is precipitated in great quantities.”

WayTwoFactsScienceUsedTurnsInterestingHumourArgumentWeightBlueInternationalHeavyDebateScalesContactGrayChemistryMetalsQuantityControversyWrong WayInteresting Fact
Book:Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)
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“TELESCOPE, n. A device having a relation to the eye similar to that of the telephone to the ear, enabling distant objects to plague us with a multitude of needless details. Luckily it is unprovided with a bell summoning us to the sacrifice.”

EyeScienceSacrificeObjectsHumourEarsRelationDetailsDevicesBellsMultitudesTelephonesPlagueEnablingTelescopesSummoning
Book:Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)
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“POTABLE, n. Suitable for drinking. Water is said to be potable; indeed, some declare it our natural beverage, although even they find it palatable only when suffering from the recurrent disorder known as thirst, for which it is a medicine. Upon nothing has so great and diligent ingenuity been brought to bear in all ages and in all countries, except the most uncivilized, as upon the invention of substitutes for water. To hold that this general aversion to that liquid has no basis in the preservative instinct of the race is to be unscientific-and without science we are as the snakes and toads.”

SaidCountryAgeScienceSufferingWaterNaturalRaceKnownHumourBearsBasesMedicineDrinkingInstinctInventionCulinarySubstitutesDisorderThirstSnakesLiquidIngenuitySuitableAversionDiligentDrinking WaterToadsBeveragesUncivilized
Book:Delphi Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated)
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