Beauty, n: the power by which a woman charms a lover and terrifies a husband.
Interpretation
Beauty can have a dual effect, attracting some while intimidating others.
This quote by Ambrose Bierce highlights the paradox of beauty in relationships, suggesting that a woman's beauty can be enchanting to her love interests while simultaneously provoking fear and insecurity in their husbands. It speaks to the complexities of attraction and the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, where beauty can evoke admiration but also jealousy and apprehension.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about the complexities of attraction in romantic relationships.
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.
Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law.
There is a rhythm to the ending of a marriage just like the rhythm of a courtship-only backward. You try to start again but get into blaming over and over. Finally you are both worn out, exhausted, hopeless. Then lawyers are called in to pick clean the corpses. The death has occurred much earlier.
I failed to communicate, that's why I chose to leave
Cruel is the strife of brothers.
It may be very well to do this and that for good fellowship; but it will never do to lose the friendship of God in order to keep on good terms with men.
I have learned to imagine an invisible sign around each person's neck that says 'Make me feel important.
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