MAJESTY, n. The state and title of a king. Regarded with a just contempt by the Most Eminent Grand Masters, Grand Chancellors, Great Incohonees and Imperial Potentates of the ancient and honorable orders of republican America.
Interpretation
The quote critiques the concept of monarchy, contrasting it with republican ideals.
Ambrose Bierce’s quote satirically defines 'majesty' as the title of a king, and highlights the disdain that leaders of republican organizations feel towards monarchs. It reflects on the tension between monarchy and republicanism, suggesting that titles of nobility are treated with skepticism and jest by those who value democratic principles and egalitarianism.
In practice
In a debate about the relevance of monarchies today, you might quote Bierce to emphasize the absurdity of royal titles.
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.
This world owes all its forward impulses to people ill at ease.
Get Christ and get all; miss Christ and miss all.
The only way we can be of use to God is to let Him take us through the crooks and crannies of our own characters.
Let your mind wander in simplicity, blend your spirit with the vastness, follow along with things the way they are, and make no room for personal views-then the world will be governed.
Do I dare Disturb the universe? In a minute there is time For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
Every civilization sees itself as the center of the world and writes its history as the central drama of human history.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.