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.
Ambrose BierceRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote humorously defines a palm tree while playfully suggesting that wealth can be detected by a tree's sap.
Ambrose Bierce's quote cleverly juxtaposes a literal description of a palm tree with a satirical twist by mentioning the 'itching palm' and suggesting that its noble gum can reveal gold or silver. This tongue-in-cheek commentary reflects Bierce's wit and philosophical musings about human greed and the folly of materialism as seen in society.
Themes
PalmMoneyHumorWealthSapNature
In practice
Example use cases
In a humorous speech about the nature of wealth and comfort.
More from Ambrose Bierce
All quotes →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.'
Ambrose BierceRead
Disobey n:To celebrate with an appropriate ceremony the maturity of a command
Ambrose BierceRead
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.
Ambrose BierceRead
PARDON, v. To remit a penalty and restore to the life of crime. To add to the lure of crime the temptation of ingratitude.
Ambrose BierceRead
Kiss. n. A word invented by the poets as a rhyme for "bliss".
Ambrose BierceRead
Similar quotes
I am an old scholar, better-looking now than when I was young. That's what sitting on your ass does to your face.
Leonard CohenRead
To watch a football game is to be in a prolonged neurotic doubt as to what you're seeing. It's more like an emergency happening at a distance than a game. I don't wonder the spectators take to drink.
Jacques BarzunRead
Politics doesn't make strange bedfellows - marriage does.
Groucho MarxRead
It takes only one drink to get me drunk. The trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or the fourteenth.
George BurnsRead
While not exactly disgruntled, he was far from feeling gruntled. He spoke with a certain what-is-it in his voice, and I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled.
P. G. WodehouseRead
I still think of that guy I was without a wife or kids, and I still want to entertain that guy. The lonely guy, the frustrated guy, the guy with no money - this is the guy who needs to laugh.
Larry DavidRead