Doubt is the father of invention.
More Quotes from Ambrose Bierce:
CLOSE-FISTED, adj. Unduly desirous of keeping that which many meritorious persons wish to obtain.Ambrose Bierce
NOVEL, n. A short story padded. A species of composition bearing the same relation to literature that the panorama bears to art. As it is too long to be read at a sitting the impressions made by its successive parts are successively effaced, as in the panorama. Unity, totality of effect, is impossible for besides the few pages last read all that is carried in mind is the mere plot of what has gone before. To the romance the novel is what photography is to painting. Its distinguishing principle, probability, corresponds to the literal actuality of the photograph and puts it distinctly into the category of reporting whereas the free wing of the romancer enables him to mount to such altitudes of imagination as he may be fitted to attain and the first three essentials of the literary art are imagination, imagination and imagination. The art of writing novels, such as it was, is long dead everywhere except in Russia, where it is new. Peace to its ashes some of which have a large sale.
Ambrose Bierce
ADMONITION, n. Gentle reproof, as with a meat-axe. Friendly warning.
Ambrose Bierce
MAGNITUDE, n. Size that is purely relative. If everything in the universe were increased 1,000 diameters nothing would be any larger than it was before, but if one thing remain unchanged all the others would be larger than they had been.
Ambrose Bierce
OUT-OF-DOORS, n. That part of one's environment upon which no government has been able to collect taxes. Chiefly useful to inspire poets.
Ambrose Bierce
MEDAL, n. A small metal disk given as a reward for virtues, attainments or services more or less authentic.
Ambrose Bierce
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Based on Topics: Discovery & Invention Quotes, Doubt & Skepticism Quotes, Fathers Quotes"I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that "I do" is the longest sentence?
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I'm glad that I'm being acclaimed as an actor. Today, when my hard work has paid off I can chill out about it.
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Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne.
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