“When lost in a forest go always down hill. When lost in a philosophy or doctrine go upward.”

— Ambrose Bierce, Epigrams, The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, vol. 8, 1911

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.”

“Accepting the absurdity of everything around us is one step, a necessary experience: it should not become a dead end.”

“You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.”

“Something the heart must have to cherish, must love and joy and sorrow learn.”

“Sorrow is knowledge: they who know the most must mourn the deepest o'er the fatal truth.”

“Men may live fools, but fools they cannot die.”

“Either knowledge is not to be attained at all, or if at all, after death.”