GOOD, adj. Sensible, madam, to the worth of this present writer. Alive, sir, to the advantages of letting him alone.
Interpretation
This quote humorously critiques the concept of goodness and suggests that acknowledging the writer's worth is subjective, implying it's better to leave him be.
Ambrose Bierce's quote uses irony to depict the idea that what is deemed 'good' is often a matter of perspective. By suggesting that the present writer is sensible yet acknowledging the advantages of ignoring him, Bierce cleverly highlights the complexities of human judgment and the subjective nature of worth, all while infusing humor into the discourse.
In practice
During a speech about creativity, I could use this quote to emphasize the importance of allowing artistic freedom.
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.
God will forgive me. It's his job." Heine said this on his deathbed (1856). Hilarious. He must have thought that up years before and counted the seconds to use it.
Listen, three eyes," he said, "don't you try to outweird me, I get stranger things than you free with my breakfast cereal.
Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way.
If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.
Golf acts as a corrective against sinful pride. I attribute the insane arrogance of the later Roman Emperors almost entirely to the fact that, never having played golf, they never knew that strange chastening humility which is engendered by a topped chip shot. If Cleopatra had been ousted in the first round of the Ladies' Singles, we should have heard a lot less of her proud imperiousness.
I think it's IMPOSSIBLE for anyone famous to come from here, because everyone around here is insane.
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