GNU, n. An animal of South Africa, which in its domesticated state resembles a horse, a buffalo and a stag. In its wild condition it is something like a thunderbolt, an earthquake and a cyclone.
Interpretation
This quote humorously describes the gnu, highlighting its peculiar characteristics in a whimsical way.
Ambrose Bierce's quote about the gnu cleverly juxtaposes the animal's domesticated and wild forms, using exaggerated metaphors to illustrate the contrast between calm and chaos. The playful language not only brings humor but also invites readers to appreciate the unique nature of animals and the wild.
In practice
Use this quote in a presentation about the humor in nature.
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.
It is hard enough to be good at all, but to be good in comedy speaks for your character.
Bill Door was impressed. Miss Flitworth could actually give the word "revenue", which had two vowels and one diphthong, all the peremptoriness of the word "scum.
Secretly we're all a little more absurd than we make ourselves out to be.
I always tell the truth. Even when I lie.
That's the kind of ad I like, facts, facts, facts.
Nine books have been written about me, and there's not a word of truth in any of them.
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