Acquaintance: "A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to. A degree of friendship called slight when its object is poor or obscure, and intimate when he is rich or famous.

His vehemence as a critic his motto "Nothing matters" and the sardonic view of human nature that informed his work all earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce". His style often embraces an abrupt beginning dark imagery vague. Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (born June 24 1842; assumed to have died sometime after December 26 1913) was an American editorialist journalist short story writer fabulist and satirist.

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (born June 24 1842; assumed to have died sometime after December 26 1913) was an American editorialist journalist short story writer fabulist and satirist. Despite his reputation as a searing critic Bierce was known to encourage younger writers including poet George Sterling and fiction writer W. Bierce employed a distinctive style of writing especially in his stories.