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To the eye of failure success is an accident.

Ambrose Bierce

REALISM, n. The art of depicting nature as it is seem by toads. The charm suffusing a landscape painted by a mole, or a story written by a measuring-worm.
AMBROSE BIERCE

Art Charm Measurement Nature Worm
Death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate.
AMBROSE BIERCE

Death End Estate Himself
PITY, n. A failing sense of exemption, inspired by contrast.
AMBROSE BIERCE

Contrast Fall Sense
In our civilization, and under our republican form of government, intelligence is so highly honored that it is rewarded by exemption from the cares of office.
AMBROSE BIERCE

Care Civilization Government Intelligence Ourselves Reward
Religion. A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.
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Fear Hope Ignorance Known Religion
He who thinks with difficulty believes with alacrity.
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Alarm Difficult Himself Thinking
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.
AMBROSE BIERCE

Each Other Hands International Separate Thief Union
War is God’s way of teaching Americans geography.
AMBROSE BIERCE

God Place Teaching War
Conservative, n: A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal who wishes to replace them with others.
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Evil Existence Philosophy Replacement
The only distinction that democracies reward is a high degree of conformity.
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Confirm Degree Democracy Reward
Responsibility, n. A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one’s neighbor. In the days of astrology it was customary to unload it upon a star.
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Astrology Custom Easy Fate God Responsibility
Mayonnaise: One of the sauces which serve the French in place of a state religion.
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Food Place Religion Service State
Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
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Democracy Lamb Lunch Vote Wolf
They say that hens do cackle loudest when there is nothing vital in the eggs they have laid.
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Animal Born Egg Loud Lying
There are two instruments worse than a clarinet – two clarinets.
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Instrument Worst
History is an account, mostly false, of events, mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers, mostly knaves, and soldiers, mostly fools.
AMBROSE BIERCE

Fake Fools History Important Rule

To the eye of failure success is an accident.

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To the eye of failure success is an accident.

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