Archive for The History Blog Project
On Learning Wisdom, Eventually
Posted by: | Comments“We chase phantoms half the days of our lives. It is well if we learn wisdom even then, and save the other half.” - Mark Twain
There comes a time in one’s life where he may question, finally, all the distractions of youth that have taken so much time and energy, and see them for what they are: nameless, faceless phantoms of fear and want , without merit or purpose.
Even then, after one has given over half a life to such imaginary phantoms and ghosts, it is worthwhile to to finally see what is important, and then to pursue only that.
On Judging a Book by its Cover
Posted by: | Comments“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 Keeping an Open Mind and Freeing a Human Soul
Posted by: | Comments“Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world – and never will.”
-Mark Twain
Freedom begins with keeping an open mind.
On Learning to See
Posted by: | Comments“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”
-Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
It is with our eyes that we look, but only with our imagination that we see.
On Textbooks in Texas
Posted by: | Comments“The very ink with which all history is written is merely fluid prejudice.”
-Mark Twain, Following the Equator
For the Texas Board of Education, America wasn’t founded on the principal of the separation of church and state, every good capitalist is actually a free-market conservative, McCarthy wasn’t really that bad, and Thomas Jefferson had nothing to do with inspiring revolution in 18th-century America.
And the ink dries on prejudice in Texas.
On Empathy and the Law of Proportion
Posted by: | Comments“Nothing that grieves us can be called little: by the eternal laws of proportion a child’s loss of a doll and a king’s loss of a crown are events of the same size.”
-Mark Twain, “Which Was the Dream“
All loss is profound. Comfort is found by seeing equally in other’s sorrow – and joy – a measure of our own.
On How a Little Certain Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing
Posted by: | Comments“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
Posted by: | Comments“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 Learning to Live With Yourself – and Others
Posted by: | Comments“A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.”
-Mark Twain
A man that can walk through life unburdened by the vicissitudes of others, accept his own shortcomings, and strive always to improve himself, warts and all, is an easy person to be around – for himself and others.
On Telling the Truth
Posted by: | Comments“A man is never more truthful than when he acknowledges himself a liar.”
-Mark Twain
We are all sinners, liars, and cheats. Admitting it is the only hope we have that we’ll not always be sinners, liars, and cheats.