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The Devil's Dictionary (view source)
Revision as of 22:59, December 10, 2008
, 22:59, December 10, 2008New page: ''The Devil's Dictionary'' is a collection of cynical and pessimistic "definitions" of common everyday words. It was written by Ambrose Bierce. The definitions first appeared in his colu...
''The Devil's Dictionary'' is a collection of cynical and pessimistic "definitions" of common everyday words. It was written by Ambrose Bierce. The definitions first appeared in his column in a San Francisco newspaper. It was eventually published in book form and still remains in print today, although due a lack of copyright, it is freely available for download online <ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/972 free download from Project Guttenberg.]</ref>
Bierce satirized both liberal and conservative positions with his work and frequently made subtle attacks against religion and the church.
==Examples==
Some examples of his work include:
''Aborigine (N):''Persons of little worth found cumbering the soil of a newly discovered country. They soon cease to cumber; they fertilize.
''Christian (n):''One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ insofar as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.
''Philosophy:: (n):''A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing.
''Pray (v):'' To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled on behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy.
''Rational (adj):''Devoid of all delusions save those of observation, experience and reflection.
''Religion (n):'' A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.
''Vote (v):'' The instrument and symbol of a freeman's power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.
==See Also==
[http://publicliterature.org/books/devils_dictionary/xaa.php Full text of the book at PublicLiterature.com]
==References==
<references/>
Bierce satirized both liberal and conservative positions with his work and frequently made subtle attacks against religion and the church.
==Examples==
Some examples of his work include:
''Aborigine (N):''Persons of little worth found cumbering the soil of a newly discovered country. They soon cease to cumber; they fertilize.
''Christian (n):''One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ insofar as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.
''Philosophy:: (n):''A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing.
''Pray (v):'' To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled on behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy.
''Rational (adj):''Devoid of all delusions save those of observation, experience and reflection.
''Religion (n):'' A daughter of Hope and Fear, explaining to Ignorance the nature of the Unknowable.
''Vote (v):'' The instrument and symbol of a freeman's power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.
==See Also==
[http://publicliterature.org/books/devils_dictionary/xaa.php Full text of the book at PublicLiterature.com]
==References==
<references/>