Ambrose Bierce

Suffrage, noun. Expression of opinion by means of a ballot. The right of suffrage (which is held to be both a privilege and a duty) means, as commonly interpreted, the right to vote for the man of another man's choice, and is highly prized. ”

Liberty: One of Imagination's most precious possessions. ”

Land: A part of the earth's surface, considered as property. The theory that land is property subject to private ownership and control is the foundation of modern society, and is eminently worthy of the superstructure. ”

Insurance - an ingenious modern game of chance in which the player is permitted to enjoy the comfortable conviction that he is beating the man who keeps the table. ”

To apologize is to lay the foundation for a future offense. ”

Consult: To seek approval for a course of action already decided upon. ”

Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining profit without individual responsibility. ”

Barometer, n.: An ingenious instrument which indicates what kind of weather we are having. ”

Painting, n.: The art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather, and exposing them to the critic. ”

Impartial - unable to perceive any promise of personal advantage from espousing either side of a controversy. ”