January 18 2016

The Best 50 Quotes of Mark Twain

Yiannis Kalliantas Quotes authors, quotes by a single personality

Mark Twain is one of the most emblematic figures of American literature, and William Faulkner called him “its father”. His humorous style of writing made him the “greatest American humorist of his age” for many, and his two most famous books, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), are considered truly important for both the American and universal culture.
It is exactly his sense of humor, combined with a feeling of boyishness that is evident in his great novels, that amazes as an integral element of the life theory that emerges from his writings. His quotes suggest a sincere, bold, yet laid-back way of living that always turns out to be truly optimistic. Our collection of Mark Twain’s best quotes will come in handy in cases where one needs a true word of wisdom and an orientation towards anything purely good. Read & share his quotes and rest assured someone will benefit deeply.

The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time. Mark Twain

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. Mark Twain

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. Mark Twain
Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. Mark Twain
The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read. Mark Twain

I did not attend his funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it. Mark Twain
Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. Mark Twain
Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. Mark Twain
Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. Mark Twain

But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most? Mark Twain
I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn’t know. Mark Twain
Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination. Mark Twain
When angry, count four. When very angry, swear. Mark Twain

Any emotion, if it is sincere, is involuntary. Mark Twain
Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it. Mark Twain
I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them. Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer Abroad
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. Mark Twain

Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in. Mark Twain
When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. Mark Twain
It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare. Mark Twain
The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter. Mark Twain

Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. Mark Twain
Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more. Mark Twain
Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. Mark Twain
Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times. Mark Twain

There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable. Mark Twain
I have a higher and grander standard of principle than George Washington. He could not lie; I can, but I won’t. Mark Twain
Of all God’s creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat. Mark Twain
Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned. Mark Twain

Censorship is telling a man he can’t have a steak just because a baby can’t chew it. Mark Twain
A home without a cat — and a well-fed, well-petted and properly revered cat — may be a perfect home, perhaps, but how can it prove title? Mark Twain
Familiarity breeds contempt and children. Mark Twain
It’s easy to make friends, but hard to get rid of them. Mark Twain
The older I get, the more clearly I remember things that never happened. Mark Twain

There is nothing so annoying as having two people talking when you’re busy interrupting. Mark Twain
I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them have never happened. Mark Twain
The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting on the first one.
Mark Twain
In religion and politics people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing. Mark Twain

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. Mark Twain
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. Mark Twain
Unconsciously we all have a standard by which we measure other men, and if we examine closely we find that this standard is a very simple one, and is this: we admire them, we envy them, for great qualities we ourselves lack. Hero worship consists in just that. Our heroes are men who do things which we recognize, with regret, and sometimes with a secret shame, that we cannot do. We find not much in ourselves to admire, we are always privately wanting to be like somebody else. If everybody was satisfied with himself, there would be no heroes. Mark Twain
A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval. Mark Twain
Write without pay until somebody offers to pay. Mark Twain

Don’t wake up a woman in love. Let her dream, so that she does not weep when she returns to her bitter reality Mark Twain
The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to the other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creatures that cannot. Mark Twain
When I am king they shall not have bread and shelter only, but also teachings out of books, for a full belly is little worth where the mind is starved. Mark Twain
The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog. Mark Twain
Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing. Mark Twain