Ambrose Gwinett Bierce Advantage Quotations

RESIGN, v.t. To renounce an honor for an advantage. To renounce an advantage for a greater advantage.

HOMICIDE, n. The slaying of one human being by another. There are four kinds of homocide: felonious, excusable, justifiable, and praiseworthy, but it makes no great difference to the person slain whether he fell by one kind or another --the classification is for advantage of the lawyers.

HYPOCRITE, n. One who, profession virtues that he does not respect secures the advantage of seeming to be what he depises.

IMPARTIAL, adj. Unable to perceive any promise of personal advantage from espousing either side of a controversy or adopting either of two conflicting opinions.

MACHINATION, n. The method employed by one's opponents in baffling one's open and honorable efforts to do the right thing.So plain the advantages of machination It constitutes a moral obligation, And honest wolves who think upon't with loathing Feel bound to don the sheep's deceptive clothing. So prospers still the diplomatic art, And Satan bows, with hand upon his heart. --R.S.K.