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.
I'm only a beer teetotaler, not a champagne teetotaler; I don't like beer.
'Have some wine,' the March Hare said in an encouraging tone. Alice looked around the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. 'I don't see any wine,' she remarked. 'There isn't any,' said the March Hare.
Well, Art is Art, isn't it? Still, on the other hand, water is water. And east is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now you tell me what you know.
Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.
If you want to kill an idea without being identified as the assassin, suggest that the legal department take a look at it.
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.
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