ist, journalist
, short story
writer, fabulist
and satirist. Today, he is best known for his short story, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
" and his satirical lexicon, The Devil's Dictionary
.
The sardonic view of human nature that informed his work – along with his vehemence as a critic
, with his motto "nothing matters" – earned him the nickname
"Bitter Bierce."
Despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, Bierce was known to encourage younger writers, including poet George Sterling
and fiction writer W. C. Morrow
.
Mark how my fame rings out from zone to zone:A thousand critics shouting: "He's unknown!"
Absent, adj. Peculiarly exposed to the tooth of detraction; vilifed; hopelessly in the wrong; superseded in the consideration and affection of another.
To men a man is but a mind. Who cares What face he carries or what form he wears? But woman's body is the woman. O, Stay thou, my sweetheart, and do never go, But heed the warning words the sage hath said: A woman absent is a woman dead.
Abstainer, n. A weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure. A total abstainer is one who abstains from everything but abstention, and especially from inactivity in the affairs of others.
Absurdity, n. A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one's own opinion.
Accord, n. Harmony.
Accordion, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin.
Acquaintance, n. A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to. A degree of friendship called slight when its object is poor or obscure, and intimate when he is rich or famous
Admiration, n. Our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves.