The Devil's Dictionary: Difference between revisions

A hilarious collection of [[Broken Aesop|broken aesops]], [[Family -Unfriendly Aesop|family unfriendly aesops]], and spoof definitions by American satirist [[Ambrose Bierce]]. They originally ran a few a week in newspapers, under the title ''The Cynic's Word Book'', but were eventually compiled into a book that's now free from copyright. Bierce had nothing but contempt for the mores and customs of his fellow man, and his book is full of ungentle [[Deconstruction]] of what people secretly mean when they speak.

A perennial favorite of [[Atheism|atheists,]] [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism|cynics,]] denizens of [[Encyclopedia Dramatica]], and good old-fashioned Depressed People, it's considered by some to be a ''bona fide'' classic of American literature, although it isn't very well known in the mainstream and never achieved the notoriety of similar works, such as the writings of [[Edgar Allan Poe]] and [[HPH.P. Lovecraft]]. In a nutshell, ''The Devil's Dictionary'' is a dictionary that claims to present the "true" definitions of words, or rather the ''concepts'' said words supposedly represent, free of the superficial and hypocritical connotations they've gained throughout their years in the zeitgeist. As expected of Bitter Bierce, the vast majority of these paint even universally benevolent concepts (like "friendship") in a very grim light, often accompanied by poems or rhymes written by Bierce under a series of bizarre and cryptic aliases. Bierce had fierce hatred for mediocrity, common morality and religion, and his frequent jabs caused a great deal of controversy.

{{quote| In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first.}}

According to its author, it is intended to be used as a school textbook. A copy can be found [[{{PAGENAME}}/Source|here, on this very wiki]]. If you insist on going elsewhere, you can find a copy online [http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/devils/index.html here]., Oror [http://packages.debian.org/lenny/dict-devil here], in dictd-compatible dictionary format.

{{quote| '''Clergyman''', ''n''. A man who undertakes the management of our spiritual affairs as a method of bettering his temporal ones. }}

{{quote| The Sultan said, "There's evidence abundant<br />

To prove this unbelieving dog redundant"<br />

To which the [[Grand Vizier]], with mien impressive,<br />

* [[Family -Unfriendly Aesop]]: [[Invoked Trope|Very deliberately]].

{{quote| '''Circus''', ''n''. A place where horses, ponies and elephants are permitted to see men, women and children acting the fool. }}

{{quote| '''Cat''', ''n''. A soft, indestructible automaton provided by nature to be kicked when things go wrong in the domestic circle. }}

* [[Never Say "Die"]]

{{quote| '''Die''', ''n''. The singular of "dice." We seldom hear the word, because there is a prohibitory proverb, [[Invoked Trope|"Never say die."]] At long intervals, however, some one says: "The die is cast," which is not true, for it is cut. [...]}}

* [[Man in Aa Kilt]]:

{{quote| '''Kilt''', ''n''. A costume sometimes worn by Scotchmen in America and Americans in Scotland. }}

{{quote| '''Hebrew''', ''n''. A male Jew, as distinguished from the Shebrew, an altogether superior creation.}}

* [[Rhymes Onon a Dime]] - most of his poems.

* [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money]]

{{quote| '''Impunity''', ''n''. Wealth.}}

[[Category:Non -Fiction Literature]]

[[Category:The DevilsDevil's Dictionary]]