RIBALDRY, n. Censorious language by another concerning oneself.
Interpretation
This quote humorously defines ribaldry as the critical remarks others make about oneself.
Ambrose Bierce's definition of 'ribaldry' cleverly highlights the irony of criticizing others for their vulgar or immoral remarks while often being the subject of similar criticisms ourselves. It suggests a playful take on human nature and the tendency to engage in gossip and judgment about one another, often through a humorous lens.
In practice
This quote could be featured in a comedy show about social interactions and misunderstandings.
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.
What makes me laugh is, of course, the absurd, the horror - anything that upsets me.
We do have a zeal for laughter in most situations, give or take a dentist.
Who you gonna believe-me or your lying eyes?
McDonald's breakfast for under a dollar is actually more expensive than that. You have to factor in the cost of bypass surgery.
And Noah he often said to his wife when he sat down to dine, "I don't care where the water goes if it doesn't get into the wine."
You can make fun with Saddam Hussein jokes ... but you can't make fun of, say, the concentration camps. I think my target was not so much evil, but benign stupidity people doing stupid things without realising or, instead, thinking they were doing good.
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