Archive for Mark Twain Quotes
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.
On Finding a True Wealth of Knowledge
Posted by: | Comments“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 Reality and Having an Active Inner Life
Posted by: | Comments“Life does not consist mainly – or even largely – of facts and happenings. It consists mainly of the storm of thoughts that is forever blowing through one’s head”
-Mark Twain
Still waters run deep. The life of the mind is life itself.
On Justice and Trial by Jury
Posted by: | Comments
“The humorist who invented trial by jury played a colossal practical joke upon the world, but since we have the system we ought to try and respect it. A thing which is not thoroughly easy to do, when we reflect that by command of the law a criminal juror must be an intellectual vacuum, attached to a melting heart and perfectly macaronian bowels of compassion.”
-Mark Twain, New York Tribune, March 1873
That it must be some enormous practical joke is never more obvious than for the juror, sitting amongst eleven strangers – suddenly compatriots in judgement – charged with directing how a blindfolded Lady Justice is to play her hand. It gives reason to doubt that justice is even possible.
But it is in the deliberation room where the inadequacy of trial by jury really sinks in. Just as it also dawns that it is best means of justice yet devised – no matter how flawed.
On Town Hall Meetings
Posted by: | Comments“The thug is aware that loudness convinces sixty persons where reasoning convinces but one.”
-Mark Twain
But those sixty people are convinced of an argument upon which there is no basis in reason – the thug makes a fool of his followers and a mockery of rational thought.
On How to Spot a Pessimist
Posted by: | Comments“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 Pride’s Downfall
Posted by: | Comments“Human pride is not worth while; there is always something lying in wait to take the wind out of it”
-Mark Twain, Following the Equator
Pride is a tricky thing. It can be a fine thing, too, like pride for work, family, community, and the accomplishments of others.
But pride only for the sake of itself, without humility, is sure to be humiliated. Best to carry the humility with you from the start.
On Timing
Posted by: | Comments“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
Posted by: | Comments“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…