Mark Twain Blog » Humor of Mark Twain

On Judging a Book by its Cover

History Blog Project — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:21:55 +0000

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society”
-Mark Twain

One should refrain, as much as possible, from judging a book merely by its cover. But it is also best when a book has a clean, well-made cover.

On Another New Year’s Eve

History Blog Project — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 19:56:56 +0000

“New Year’s is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions.”
-Mark Twain

New Years Eve is one of the saddest holidays of the year; no it is the saddest. People only look happy because they’ve had too much to drink, many with the notion that it is for the last time.

On How a Little Certain Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing

History Blog Project — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:35:42 +0000

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so”
-Mark Twain

The more tenaciously a thought is held, the more irrational it becomes. But it ain’t necessarily so.

On Conspiracy Theories

History Blog Project — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:55:07 +0000

“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, most of them never happened.”
- Mark Twain

Beware the boogie man in the dark corner, for he just may not exist.

On Finding a True Wealth of Knowledge

History Blog Project — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:51:41 +0000

“I would rather have my ignorance than another man’s knowledge, because I have got so much more of it.”
-Mark Twain

All we can be sure of is our own ignorance – knowing that we don’t know. An abundance of known ignorance is better than a paucity of knowledge.

On How to Spot a Pessimist

History Blog Project — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:48:27 +0000

“Pessimist: the optimist who didn’t arrive”
-Mark Twain

Just showing up requires a level of optimism that the true pessimist is unwilling to give.

On Timing

History Blog Project — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:51:06 +0000

“I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one”
-Mark Twain

The difference between a million dollar idea and the worthless boasts of a crank is like the difference between a great joke and a terrible one -timing.

On Blowing Smoke

History Blog Project — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:42:52 +0000

“It is a talent by itself to pay compliments gracefully and have them ring true. It is an art in itself.”
- Mark Twain, speech, “The Lost Lotos Club”

You da’ man… No you da’ man…

On the Value of Education

History Blog Project — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:05:40 +0000

“Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge.”
-Mark Twain

The better the education, the more you know what you don’t know – unless you’re too stupid. Then you know everything.

On Being Truly Virtuous

History Blog Project — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:15:07 +0000

“The weakest of all weak things is a virtue that has not been tested in the fire.”
-Mark Twain

It’s one thing to act virtuously and not know any better, quite another to remain so when aware of the options.