Ambrose Bierce Quotes on Politics (24 Quotes)

INFLUENCE, n. In politics, a visionary pquo' given in exchange for a substantial pquid'.

Revolution, n. In politics, an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment.

Consul - in American politics, a person who having failed to secure an office from the people is given one by the Administration on condition that he leave the country.

TRUST, n. In American politics, a large corporation composed in greater part of thrifty working men, widows of small means, orphans in the care of guardians and the courts, with many similar malefactors and public enemies.

REPRESENTATIVE, n. In national politics, a member of the Lower House in this world, and without discernible hope of promotion in the next.

PUSH, n. One of the two things mainly conducive to success, especially in politics. The other is Pull.

Politics: A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.

DELEGATION, n. In American politics, an article of merchandise that comes in sets.

ADMINISTRATION, n. An ingenious abstraction in politics, designed to receive the kicks and cuffs due to the premier or president. A man of straw, proof against bad-egging and dead-catting.

OPPOSITION, n. In politics the party that prevents the Government from running amuck by hamstringing it.

SORCERY, n. The ancient prototype and forerunner of political influence. It was, however, deemed less respectable and sometimes was punished by torture and death.

Battle, n., A method of untying with the teeth a political knot that would not yield to the tongue.

PRISON, n. A place of punishments and rewards. The poet assures us that 'Stone walls do not a prison make,' but a combination of the stone wall, the political parasite and the moral instructor is no garden of sweets.

LIGHTHOUSE, n. A tall building on the seashore in which the government maintains a lamp and the friend of a politician.

TENACITY, n. A certain quality of the human hand in its relation to the coin of the realm. It attains its highest development in the hand of authority and is considered a serviceable equipment for a career in politics.

POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.

Boundary n. in political geography, an imaginary line between two nations, separating the imaginary rights of one from the imaginary rights of the other.

POLITICIAN, n. An eel in the fundamental mud upon which the superstructure of organized society is reared. When he wriggles, he mistakes the agitation of his tail for the trembling of the edifice.

RECOUNT, n. In American politics, another throw of the dice, accorded to the player against whom they are loaded.

PRESIDENCY, n. The greased pig in the field game of American politics.

MULTITUDE, n. A crowd the source of political wisdom and virtue. In a republic, the object of the statesman's adoration.

ARENA, n. In politics, an imaginary rat-pit in which the statesman wrestles with his record.

MUGWUMP, n. In politics one afflicted with self-respect and addicted to the vice of independence. A term of contempt.

Alliance - in international politics, the union of two thieves who have their hands so deeply inserted in each other's pockets that they cannot separately plunder a third.