The Devil's Dictionary
by Ambrose Bierce · first published 1840
27% recommend73% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Short, witty satirical definitions that skewer hypocrisy and human folly. Readers return for a good laugh and enjoy dipping in and out. Pairs well with the sardonic humor of Carlin and O'Rourke.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The Devil's Dictionary was begun in a weekly paper in 1881, and was continued in a desultory way at long intervals until 1906. In that year a large part of it was published in covers with the title The Cynic's Word Book, a name which the author had not the power to reject or happiness to approve. To quote the publishers of the present work: "This more reverent title had previously been forced upon him by the religious scruples of the last newspaper in which a part of the work had appeared, with the natural consequence that when it came out in covers the country already had been flooded by its
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*The Devil's Dictionary[1] by Ambrose Bierce, a collection of sarcastic definitions, some of which are still funny today: > LOGIC, n. The art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the limitations and incapacities…
on “Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?” ↗…Understanding (Hume) - the surviving words and works of Epicurus, and Diogenes the Cynic - Freakonomics (Levitt, Dubner) - The Gay Science (Nietzsche) - The Jefferson Bible (Christ, Jefferson (ed.)) - The Devil's Dictionary (Bierce) - Brain Droppings (George Carlin) - anything by P. J. O'Rourke - anything by Dave Barry
on “Ask YC: favorite books” ↗Another great book from a similar period: The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Pierce - http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/972 - Definitely one to have in the toilet.
on “Flatland: A Forgivably Flat Classic” ↗I have always enjoyed Ambrose Bierce's definition of a monad in "The Devil's Dictionary" "MONAD, n. The ultimate, indivisible unit of matter. (See Molecule.) According to Leibnitz, as nearly as he seems willing to be understood, the monad has body without bulk, and mind without manifestation…
on “Dropping In on Gottfried Leibniz” ↗…writing is learned from reading. A lot of perceived quality is by subconscious shibboleth: they'll think better of you if you don't make the slight errors other people make. Go consume Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary.
on “How do you get to write so well in HN?” ↗This is a wonderfully hilarious work of sarcasm, on a level similar to the Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. I chose one item to see what was changed ... https://github.com/The-Feminist-Software-Foundation/ToleranU... See you for yourself and have a laugh.
…Stevenson, William James Every book by Nietzsche (except Zarathustra). La Bruyere - Characters Charles Mackay - Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds Ambrose Bierce - The Devil's Dictionary
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?” ↗…distaste because you are drinking a sorry substitute for a cup of tea. Overtime Window: Rather than continue working extra hours you decide to self-defenestrate --- Further reading: Ambrose Bierce - The Devil's Dictionary, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/972/972-h/972-h.htm Douglas Adams - The Meaning of Liff, https://ia601202.us.archive.org/18/items/calibre_library_76....
on “Center for AI Safety's new spokesperson suggests „burning down labs"” ↗This is a brilliant book. I loved it, have the hard copy and read it so many times. I'd also recommend the Devil's Dictionary (http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/972) for another good old read.
on “Flatland: A romance of many dimensions” ↗…where there is no river. -- Nikita Khrushchev ~$ fortune Distress, n.: A disease incurred by exposure to the prosperity of a friend. -- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary" ~$ fortune The Preacher, the Politician, the Teacher, Were each of them once a kiddie. A child, indeed, is a wonderful creature. Do I want one? God Forbiddie!…
on “Today in History, Brought to You by Unix” ↗I was looking up nationalism on Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary, but didn't find it (probably too sensitive a subject at the time), so here's its definition of politics: > POLITICS, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of…
on “France Enters the Matrix” ↗Border: In political geography, an imaginary line between two nations, separating the imaginary rights of one from the imaginary rights of the other. (The Devil's Dictionary, by Ambrose Bierce, 1911)
on “Call for a global Immigration Reform” ↗…feeling particularly generous I tend to agree with Samuel Johnson that "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." The rest of the time I am more aligned with Ambrose Bierce's version from The Devil's Dictionary. “Patriotism, n. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name. In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all…
on “'WWIII Queen's speech' script revealed” ↗…ourselves as to the real purpose served by politicking. "Politics: A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage." - Ambrose Bierce (The Devil's Dictionary, 1911) No need to look further than the $50m of political spending in 2017 by FAAG [0] for regulations that would serve their interests like tax reforms, with Google leading the pack with $18m. [0]…
on “96-Year-Old Secretary Quietly Amasses Fortune, Then Donates $8.2M” ↗Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math. - Ambrose Bierce, The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary
on “South Africa's lottery probed as 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 drawn” ↗