MAJESTY, n. The state and title of a king. Regarded with a just contempt by the Most Eminent Grand Masters, Grand Chancellors, Great Incohonees and Imperial Potentates of the ancient and honorable orders of republican America.
Interpretation
The quote critiques the concept of monarchy, contrasting it with republican ideals.
Ambrose Bierce’s quote satirically defines 'majesty' as the title of a king, and highlights the disdain that leaders of republican organizations feel towards monarchs. It reflects on the tension between monarchy and republicanism, suggesting that titles of nobility are treated with skepticism and jest by those who value democratic principles and egalitarianism.
In practice
In a debate about the relevance of monarchies today, you might quote Bierce to emphasize the absurdity of royal titles.
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.
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.
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.'
Disobey n:To celebrate with an appropriate ceremony the maturity of a command
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.
PARDON, v. To remit a penalty and restore to the life of crime. To add to the lure of crime the temptation of ingratitude.
A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
Atheism is indeed the most daring of all dogmas . . . for it is the assertion of a universal negative.
If men would consider not so much wherein they differ, as wherein they agree, there would be far less of uncharitableness and angry feeling in the world.
There is a principle which is pure, placed in the human mind, which in different places and ages hath had different names. It is, however, pure and proceeds from God. It is deep and inward, confined to no forms of religion nor excluded from any, where the heart stands in perfect sincerity. In whomsoever this takes root and grows, of what nation soever, they become brethren in the best sense of the expression.
Small rooms or dwellings discipline the mind, large ones weaken it.
Heaven is blest with perfect rest, but the blessing of Earth is toil.
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