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
american-author main nine
The main difference between a cat and a lie is that a cat only has nine lives.
american-author education schooling
I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.
almost large matter
The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter - 'tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning.
people
Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish.
american-author heaven humor secret source
The secret source of humor is not joy but sorrow; there is no humor in Heaven.
bitter cabbage college peach
Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.
cigar excess time
I never smoke to excess - that is, I smoke in moderation, only one cigar at a time.
tidy
Be careless in your dress if you must, but keep a tidy soul.
boy drawn exactly good tom
In 'Huckleberry Finn,' I have drawn Tom Blankenship exactly as he was. He was ignorant, unwashed, insufficiently fed; but he had as good a heart as ever any boy had.
begin cannot curse dreamers energies good imagine life man rich sleep
It put our energies to sleep and made visionaries of us - dreamers and indolent... It is good to begin life poor; it is good to begin life rich - these are wholesome; but to begin it prospectively rich! The man who has not experienced it cannot imagine the curse of it.
american-author fiction truth
Why shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.
becomes grounded moment wisdom
Wit, by itself, is of little account. It becomes a moment only when grounded on wisdom.
along damage duration electric enjoys fools humor lightning wit
Wit and Humor -- if any difference, it is in duration -- lightning and electric light. Same material, apparently; but one is vivid, and can do damage -- the other fools along and enjoys elaboration.
age age-and-aging habits life protect reach
We can't reach old age by another man's road. My habits protect my life but they would assassinate you.