Ambrose Bierce Quotes

The instinct of ownership is fundamental in man’s nature.

Nothing retains less of desire in art, in science, than this will to industry, booty, possession.

Men would live exceedingly quiet if these two words, mine and thine, were taken away.

Most men have always wanted as much as they could get; and possession has always blunted the fine edge of their altruism.

He does not possess wealth; it possesses him.

As human beings, we're very materialistic and have all this stuff - furs and cars and diamonds and money.

Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions.

There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.

The desire for possession is insatiable, to such a point that it can survive even love itself. To love, therefore, is to sterilize the person one loves.

The more we have the less we own.

Some people's measure of success is how much they can grab hold of and hold on to.

Possession hinders enjoyment. It merely gives you the right to keep things for or from others, and thus you gain more enemies than friends.

The love of money as a possession...will be recognised for what it is, a somewhat disgusting morbidity.

Private property has made us so stupid and one-sided that an object is only ours when we have it

Adam didn't look at him when he said, finally, "It doesn't matter how you say it. It's what you wanted, in the end. All your things in one place, all under your roof. Everything you own right where you can see.

Those two fatal words, Mine and Thine.

I'm not technically rich, but I do have a lot of s**t that I don't need, that I refuse to share with others.

Whatever we treasure for ourselves separates us from others; our possessions are our limitations.

I hate collectors, the ones who take something just for themselves.

Nothing comes amiss, so money comes withal.

For white men, to live is to own, or to try to own more, or to die trying to own more. Their appetites are astonishing! They own wardrobes, slaves, carriages, houses, warehouses, and ships. They own ports, cities, plantations, valleys, mountains, chains of islands. They own this world, its jungles, its skies, and its seas. Yet they complain that Dejima is a prison. They complain they are not free.

Those in the community who defy authority and 'break the law' seem to enjoy the good life and have everything in the way of material possessions. On the other hand, people who work hard and struggle and suffer much are the victims of greed and indifference, losers. This insane reversal of values presses heavily on the Black community. The causes originate from outside and are imposed by a system that ruthlessly seeks its own rewards, no matter what the cost in wrecked human lives.

It'll be impossible to protect Brittany for the rest of her life from all the other guys who want to be near her, to see her as I've seen her. Touch her as I've touch her. Man, I never want to let her go.

We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious. They stole it from us. Sneaky little hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, false!

They pass peaceful lives who ignore mine and thine.