"There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only."

Ambrose Bierce Literature See all quotes by Ambrose Bierce →

React to this quote

More by Ambrose Bierce

“Mayonnaise, n. One of the sauces that serve the French in place of a state religion.”

“Conservative, n. A statesman enamored of existing evils, as opposed to a Liberal, who wants to replace them with others.”

“Politics, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.”

“Cannon, n. An instrument employed in the rectification of national boundaries.”

“Resign, v. To renounce an honor for an advantage. To renounce an advantage for a greater advantage.”

“An army's bravest men are its cowards. The death which they would not meet at the hands of the enemy they will meet at the hands of their officers, with never a flinching.”

Resonant Thoughts

"How sweet! You still believe in death... that's just so... quaint. Well, sorry to pop your death bubble, but there's no such thing. So make the best of things. Any real belief in death is just wishful…"

— Chuck Palahniuk

Literature1962

#mind

"Their mantra was: "Afghanistan, where the world's richest country rains bombs on the world's poorest country." Poor fools. They should never have tried to beat me at this game. What about, "Afghanista…"

— Christopher Hitchens

Philosophy1949–2011

#books

"A desire for children, I suppose; for Nessa's life; for the sense of flowers breaking all round me involuntarily. Years and years ago, after the Lytton affair, I said to myself, walking up the hill at…"

— Virginia Woolf

Literature1882–1941

#family

"On the other hand ⁠— or maybe at the same time ⁠— we can also expect that, among the powerful and among the rest of us, there will be calls to reject the “return to normal,” but in order to embrace so…"

— Max Haiven

Economics1981

#power