Egotist

By Ambrose Bierce

Megaceph, chosen to serve the State

In the halls of legislative debate,

One day with his credentials came

To the capitol's door and announced his name.

The doorkeeper looked, with a comical twist

Of the face, at the eminent egotist,

And said: "Go away, for we settle here

All manner of questions, knotty and queer,

And we cannot have, when the speaker demands

To know how every member stands,

A man who to all things under the sky

Assents by eternally voting 'I.'"