“This is a simple story of a battle; such a tale as may be told by a soldier who is no writer to a reader who is no soldier.”

— Ambrose Bierce, What I Saw At Shiloh, 1881, Part I

About Ambrose Bierce

Born 1842

American satirist and journalist, author of "The Devil's Dictionary".

“Perseverance, n. A lowly virtue whereby mediocrity achieves an inglorious success.”

“When prosperous the fool trembles for the evil that is to come; in adversity the philosopher smiles for the good that he has had.”

“The gambling known as business looks with austere disfavor upon the business known as gambling.”

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

“It is unlikely that the good of a snail should reside in its shell: so is it likely that the good of a man should?”

“In theory there is nothing to hinder our following what we are taught; but in life there are many things to draw us aside.”

“If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men's cottages princes' palaces.”

“That which makes the man no worse than he was makes his life no worse: it has no power to harm, without or within.”

“Always take the short cut; and that is the rational one. Therefore say and do everything according to soundest reason.”