Homicide, /n./ The slaying of one human by another. There are four kinds of homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable, and praiseworthy, but it makes no great difference to the person slain whether he died by one kind or another - the classification is for the advantage of the lawyers.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the various legal classifications of homicide, indicating that such distinctions hold little value from the perspective of the victim.
Ambrose Bierce's quote provokes thought about the nature and morality of homicide, emphasizing that despite the legal distinctions made by society—such as felonious or justifiable—the impact on the victim is universally negative. It critiques the legal system's tendency to categorize and debate the morality of taking a life, highlighting that the victim themselves does not benefit from these classifications and suggesting that the focus should perhaps be on the humane perspective rather than legal technicalities.
In practice
During a legal seminar discussing the implications of various homicide classifications.
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.
One does not want to be deceived, under the supposition that it is injurious, dangerous, or fatal to be deceived.
Forgetfulness, and I would even say historical error, are essential in the creation of a nation.
If Islam despises Christianity, it has a thousandfold right to do so: Islam at least assumes that it is dealing with men.
Know not to revere human things too much.
When you feel expansion of your consciousness, that is the most ecstatic experience possible, because suddenly you are the whole universe. Stars are within you. The sun rises within you and sets within you. The earth moves within you. The flowers blossom within you.
He didn't mind how he looked to other people, because the nursery magic had made him Real, and when you are Real shabbiness doesn't matter.
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