Even though this is a 7/11 blog, I am not a convenience store. Just a few more Bierce entries.
“I is the first letter in the alphabet, the first word of the language, the first thought of the mind, the first object of affection.”
Bierce goes on a bit longer with this entry in his “dictionary,” but you get the basic idea. I think it is about male vanity. I is obviously not the first letter of the alphabet. I think he is talking about the centrality of male sexuality, how it is for some men “first.” The 20th-century U.S. novelist John O’Brien spoke in his most famous book Leaving Las Vegas of the alcoholic main character having his deathplace bed being “the truth of his life.” Some people think the film version of it to be maudlin; I thought it was rather sad but good.
“Idiot, n. A member of a large and powerful tribe whose influence in human affairs has always been dominant and controlling. The Idiot’s activity is not confined to any special field of thought or action, ‘but pervades and relates to the whole’. He has the last word in everything; his decision is unappealable. He has the last word in everything; his decision is unappealable.”
Bierce goes on another sentence with this entry, but I think you get the gist. I had some repeated encounters last winter with local police who were very abusive, and I am not sure if they were Sadists or just idiots. If they were Sadists, they should be punished; if they were idiots, I feel sorry for them. They should have lost their badges in either case. I am leaving the area.