QuoteProject
Bore, n. A person who talks when you wish him to listen.
Ambrose Bierce
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote humorously defines a bore as someone who fails to engage in a conversation as a listener.

Ambrose Bierce's quote cleverly captures the frustration of dealing with someone who monopolizes a conversation, disregarding the needs and desires of others to engage and listen. It reflects a common social dynamic where listening is undervalued compared to the need to express oneself, highlighting the importance of reciprocal communication in relationships.

Themes

BoreListeningConversationCommunicationHumor

In practice

Example use cases

In a networking event to emphasize the importance of listening skills.

More from Ambrose Bierce

PALM, n. A species of tree . . . of which the familiar "itching palm" ("Palma hominis") is most widely distributed . . . . This noble vegetable exudes a kind of invisible gum, which may be detected by applying to the bark a piece of gold or silver.
Ambrose BierceRead
Human nature is pretty well balanced; for every lacking virtue there is a rough substitute that will serve at a pinch--as cunning is the wisdom of the unwise, and ferocity the courage of the coward.
Ambrose BierceRead
Indigestion: A disease which the patient and his friends frequently mistake for deep religious conviction and concern for the salvation of mankind. As the simple Red Man of the Western Wild put it, with, it must be confessed, a certain force: 'Plenty well, no pray; big belly ache, heap God.'
Ambrose BierceRead
Disobey n:To celebrate with an appropriate ceremony the maturity of a command
Ambrose BierceRead
NOUMENON, n. That which exists, as distinguished from that which merely seems to exist, the latter being a phenomenon. The noumenon is a bit difficult to locate; it can be apprehended only by a process of reasoning - which is a phenomenon.
Ambrose BierceRead
PARDON, v. To remit a penalty and restore to the life of crime. To add to the lure of crime the temptation of ingratitude.
Ambrose BierceRead

Similar quotes

I've been to many funerals of funny people, and they're some of the funniest days you'll ever have, because the emotions run high.
Albert BrooksRead
Opinions are like demo tapes. I don't want to hear yours
Stephen ColbertRead
Somebody once asked me how I found Peter Jackson, and I said: 'Well, I parted his hair, and there he was.'
Christopher LeeRead
I'm tired of wasting letters when punctuation will do, period.
Steve MartinRead
Humor has to surprise us; otherwise, it isn't funny. It's a death knell for a writer to be labeled a humorist because then it's not a surprise anymore.
Garrison KeillorRead
He was so learned that he could name a horse in nine languages; so ignorant that he bought a cow to ride on.
Benjamin FranklinRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.

Quote by Ambrose Bierce | QuoteProject