RABBLE, n. In a republic, those who exercise a supreme authority
tempered by fraudulent elections. The rabble is like the sacred
Simurgh, of Arabian fable -- omnipotent on condition that it do
nothing. (The word is Aristocratese, and has no exact equivalent in
our tongue, but means, as nearly as may be, "soaring swine.")
-- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"
tempered by fraudulent elections. The rabble is like the sacred
Simurgh, of Arabian fable -- omnipotent on condition that it do
nothing. (The word is Aristocratese, and has no exact equivalent in
our tongue, but means, as nearly as may be, "soaring swine.")
-- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"
Related:
- Rabble: In a republic, those who hold supreme power tempered by
fraudulent elections.
Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's... - ROSTRUM, n. In Latin, the beak of a bird or the prow of a ship.
In America, a place from which a candidate for office... - PIETY, n. Reverence for the Supreme Being, based upon His supposed
resemblance to man.
The pig is taught by sermons and epistles To think... - AUCTIONEER, n. The man who proclaims with a hammer that he has picked
a pocket with his tongue.
Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's... - MISCREANT, n. A person of the highest degree of unworth.
Etymologically, the word means unbeliever, and its... - ELECTOR, n. One who enjoys the sacred privilege of voting for the man
of another man's choice.
Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's... - ORATORY, n. A conspiracy between speech and action to cheat the
understanding.
A tyranny tempered by stenography. -- Ambrose Bierce... - JOSS-STICKS, n. Small sticks burned by the Chinese in their pagan
tomfoolery,
in imitation of certain sacred rites of our holy religion... - OBSOLETE, adj. No longer used by the timid. Said chiefly of words.
A word which some lexicographer has marked obsolete...
