FIB, n. A lie that has not cut its teeth. An habitual liar's nearest approach to truth: the perigee of his eccentric orbit.
Interpretation
The quote humorously defines a lie that is not fully developed yet, capturing the essence of dishonesty.
Ambrose Bierce uses wit to describe a fib as a preliminary form of lying, suggesting that it is a less severe version of a full-blown lie. By invoking the image of a habitual liar's approach to truth, he illustrates the complex relationship between honesty and deception, all while employing clever wordplay that elicits a smile.
In practice
In a light-hearted discussion about exaggerations in everyday life.
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.
You should give up.' 'Why?' 'For one thing, you'll live longer.' 'Oh, you don't live longer. It just seems longer.
I was trying to do one-liners and it took me years to realise I just had to be myself. My fear was if I was myself and no one found it funny, I'd have nowhere left to go.
There are a hell of a lot of jobs that are scarier than live comedy. Like standing in the operating room when a guy's heart stops, and you're the one who has to fix it!
I envy people who drink. At least they have something to blame everything on.
Getting out of the hospital is a lot like resigning from a book club. You're not out of it until the computer says you're out of it.
When there is an old maid in the house, a watchdog is unnecessary.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.