Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer. Among his novels are The Adventures of Tom Sawyerand its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the latter often called "The Great American Novel"...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth30 November 1835
CountryUnited States of America
idiots language paris simply spoke stared succeed understand
In Paris they simply stared when I spoke to them in French; I never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language
approved attend explaining letter nice refused wrote
I refused to attend his funeral. But I wrote a very nice letter explaining that I approved of it.
blend father man mind mother perfect
By his father he is English, by his mother he is American - to my mind the blend which makes the perfect man
civilization limitless
Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities
boy community envied happy liberties man rest totally
His liberties were totally unrestricted, ... He was the only really independent person - boy or man - in the community, and by consequence he was tranquilly and continuously happy and envied by the rest of us.
born heads knew men millions nor passed philosophy single
I knew I should not find in any philosophy a single thought which had not passed through my own head, nor a single thought which had not passed through the heads of millions and millions of men before I was born
confidence man particle redeeming
I have not a particle of confidence in a man who has no redeeming vices.
care caste color creed human man nor prejudices race stand
I have no race prejudice. I think I have no color prejudices or caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. Indeed, I know it. I can stand any society. All that I care to know is that a man is a human being -- that is enough for me; he can't be any worse.
beginning cause costs join patriot patriotism scarce succeeds timid
In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, Brave, Hated, and Scorned. When his cause succeeds however,the timid join him, For then it costs nothing to be a Patriot.
ignorance knowledge
If you think knowledge is dangerous, try ignorance
miss noah pity
Often it does seem such a pity that Noah and his party did not miss the boat.
america american-author except
There is no distinctly American criminal class - except Congress.
few stand
Few of us can stand prosperity. Another man's, I mean.
american-author obliged truth
Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't.