Acquaintance. A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to.
Interpretation
This quote humorously highlights the superficial nature of some social connections.
Ambrose Bierce's quote on acquaintance sheds light on the interesting and often transactional nature of some human relationships. It suggests that while we may have a familiarity with certain individuals—enough to comfortably request favors or resources—we may still lack the depth of trust and mutual engagement that characterizes more meaningful friendships. This irony emphasizes how some connections are more about convenience than genuine companionship.
In practice
During a speech on social networking, one might use this quote to illustrate the difference between acquaintances and true friends.
PALM, n. A species of tree . . . of which the familiar "itching palm" ("Palma hominis") is most widely distributed . . . . This noble vegetable exudes a kind of invisible gum, which may be detected by applying to the bark a piece of gold or silver.
Human nature is pretty well balanced; for every lacking virtue there is a rough substitute that will serve at a pinch--as cunning is the wisdom of the unwise, and ferocity the courage of the coward.
Indigestion: A disease which the patient and his friends frequently mistake for deep religious conviction and concern for the salvation of mankind. As the simple Red Man of the Western Wild put it, with, it must be confessed, a certain force: 'Plenty well, no pray; big belly ache, heap God.'
Disobey n:To celebrate with an appropriate ceremony the maturity of a command
NOUMENON, n. That which exists, as distinguished from that which merely seems to exist, the latter being a phenomenon. The noumenon is a bit difficult to locate; it can be apprehended only by a process of reasoning - which is a phenomenon.
PARDON, v. To remit a penalty and restore to the life of crime. To add to the lure of crime the temptation of ingratitude.
[I]n Africa I was a member of a family—of a sort of family that the people of your culture haven't known for thousands of years. If gorillas were capable of such an expression, they would tell you that their family is like a hand, of which they are the fingers. They are fully aware of being a family but are very little aware of being individuals. Here in the zoo there were other gorillas—but there was no family. Five severed fingers do not make a hand.
When men do the dishes, it's called helping. When women do the dishes, it is called life.
In my house, you got in trouble if you didn't speak up. My mom would be furious at us if we went to school and behaved nicely if someone treated us badly. If we got in trouble because we had yelled at them or told them that they were wrong, my mother would be like, 'Good job.'
A little still she strove, and much repented, And whispering “I will ne'er consent”—consented.
He had lived and acted on the assumption that he was alone, and now he saw that he had not been. What he had done made others suffer. No matter how much he would long for them to forget him, they would not be able to. His family was a part of him, not only in blood, but in spirit.
Marriage and its entourage of possession and jealousy enslave the spirit.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.