Fantastic Fables, Ambrose Bierce: The Thoughtful Warden

Updated May 14, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

The Thoughtful Warden

THE Warden of a Penitentiary was one day putting locks on the doors of all the cells when a mechanic said to him:

"Those locks can all be opened from the inside - you are very imprudent."

The Warden did not look up from his work, but said:

"If that is called imprudence, I wonder what would be called a thoughtful provision against the vicissitudes of fortune."