PROJECTILE, n. The final arbiter in international disputes. With the growth of prudence in military affairs the projectile came more and more into favor, and is now held in high esteem by the most courageous.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that in international conflicts, the use of force is often prioritized as the ultimate solution, reflecting society's militaristic tendencies.
Ambrose Bierce's quote highlights the paradox of how societies tend to value military force, represented by projectiles, as a resolving mechanism in international disputes. It implies a critical view of the reliance on violence and the courage associated with embracing such destructive means for achieving resolution, questioning the ethics of valorizing military solutions in diplomatic affairs.
In practice
During a debate on military strategies, one might use this quote to critique the reliance on force in international negotiations.
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.
No one gets angry at a mathematician or a physicist whom he or she doesn't understand, or at someone who speaks a foreign language, but rather at someone who tampers with your own language.
Many of her thoughts were perfect syllogisms; unluckily they always remained thoughts. Only a few were irrational assumptions; but, unfortunately, they were the ones which most frequently grew into deeds
You have rather the look of another world. I marvelled where you had got that sort of face.
The more we come out and do good to others, the more our hearts will be purified, and God will be in them.
Decidedly it will never have been given to me to finish anything, except perhaps breathing. One must not be greedy.
Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
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