Meander, noun . . .

Today is the birthday of Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (June 24, 1842 – 1914?), author, journalist, and satirist. He is best known for his satirical dictionary, The Devil's Dictionary and his mysterious disappearance.

"A person who doubts himself is like a man who would enlist in the ranks of his enemies and bear arms agains himself. He makes his failure certain by himself being the first person to be convinced of it." - Ambrose Bierce

"We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They get run over." - Ambrose Bierce

"Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret." - Ambrose Bierce

"A man is known by the company he organizes." - Ambrose Bierce

Excerpts from The Devil's Dictionary:

"ABSURDITY, n.: A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one's own opinion."

"ACQUAINTANCE, n.: A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to."

"ADMIRATION, n.: Our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves."

"BORE, n.: A person who talks when you wish him to listen."

"CORPORATION, n.: An ingenious device for obtaining profit without individual responsibility."

"EGOTISM, n: Doing the New York Times crossword puzzle with a pen."

"EGOIST, n.: A person of low taste, more interested in himself than in me."

"HAPPINESS, noun.: An agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of another."

"MAD, adj: Affected with a high degree of intellectual independence."

"MEANDER, n. To proceed sinuously and aimlessly. The word is the ancient name of a river about one hundred and fifty miles south of Troy, which turned and twisted in the effort to get out of hearing when the Greeks and Trojans boasted of their prowess."

"PAINTING, n: The art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather and exposing them to the critic."

Look up additional words in The Devil's Dictionary.

Bierce image source (1)