REPRESENTATIVE, n. In national politics, a member of the Lower House in this world, and without discernible hope of promotion in the next.
Interpretation
This quote satirically describes the role of a representative in politics as a lowly position with little chance of advancement.
Ambrose Bierce humorously critiques the position of a political representative by suggesting that it is a low-status job that lacks prospects for improvement, both in terms of power and in any metaphysical sense after life. By referring to it as the 'Lower House', he implies that politicians often feel trapped in their roles with little hope for future success or elevation in status, both in the political hierarchy and in the afterlife.
In practice
This quote can be used to spark a discussion on the nature of political representation during a political science lecture.
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 wonder whether those of our political masters who have been put in charge of the defence of the country can distinguish a mortar from a motor; a gun from a howitzer; a guerrilla from a gorilla, although a great many resemble the latter.
Syria should not belong to one family, to one coterie, or to one party. It belongs to all the people of Syria equally, in all their religious and ethnic diversity.
Political nature abhors a vacuum, which is what often exists for a year or two in a party after it loses a presidential election.
The immigration issue is, I recognize, one that generates a lot of passion, but it does not make sense for us to want to push talent out.
King Louis Philippe once said to me that he attributed the great success of the British nation in political life to their talking politics after dinner.
My greatest political asset, which professional politicians fear, is my mouth, out of which come all kinds of things one shouldn't always discuss for reasons of political expediency.
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