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*The Devil's Dictionary[1] by Ambrose Bierce, a collection of sarcastic definitions, some of which are still funny today:

> LOGIC, n. The art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the limitations and incapacities of the human misunderstanding.

> SELF-EVIDENT, adj. Evident to one's self and to nobody else.

[1] http://thedevilsdictionary.com/



I managed to find a beautiful binding of this book in a small case with a marbled cover. It's something I take out and read now and then in small doses, and almost always brings cheer. One of my favourite definitions is:

INTERREGNUM, n. The period during which a monarchical country is governed by a warm spot on the cushion of the throne. The experiment of letting the spot grow cold has commonly been attended by most unhappy results from the zeal of many worthy persons to make it warm again.

and

INTERPRETER, n. One who enables two persons of different languages to understand each other by repeating to each what it would have been to the interpreter's advantage for the other to have said.


You may like this one: The Doubter's Companion: A Dictionary of Aggressive Common Sense by John Ralston Saul




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