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Mark Twain

100 quotes

Mark Twain (1835–1910) was the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, an American writer, humorist, and lecturer. Widely considered the "father of American literature," Twain is best known for *The Adventures of Tom Sawyer* and *Adventures of Huckleberry Finn*. His razor-sharp humor and social commentary have made him one of the most quoted writers in the English language.

“A round man cannot be expected to fit in a square hole right away. He must have time to modify his shape.”

— Mark Twain

Time

All Quotes by Mark Twain

“Wit is the sudden marriage of ideas which before their union were not perceived to have any relation.”

— Mark Twain

Marriage

“We have the best government that money can buy.”

— Mark Twain

Best

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”

— Mark Twain

Society

“What a wee little part of a person's life are his acts and his words! His real life is led in his head, and is known to none but himself.”

— Mark Twain

Life

“Principles have no real force except when one is well-fed.”

— Mark Twain

Politics

“Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.”

— Mark Twain

Government

“Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do. Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.”

— Mark Twain

Work

“I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.”

— Mark Twain

Death

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”

— Mark Twain

Government

“A man's character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation.”

— Mark Twain

Communication

“When angry, count to four when very angry, swear.”

— Mark Twain

Anger

“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.”

— Mark Twain

Courage

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

— Mark Twain

Death

“You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”

— Mark Twain

Imagination

“What a good thing Adam had. When he said a good thing he knew nobody had said it before.”

— Mark Twain

Good

“I have made it a rule never to smoke more that one cigar at a time.”

— Mark Twain

Time

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.”

— Mark Twain

Good

“It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.”

— Mark Twain

Truth

“It is not best that we should all think alike it is a difference of opinion that makes horse races.”

— Mark Twain

Best

“Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.”

— Mark Twain

Good