21 Mark Twain Quotes

Mark Twain was a beloved American author and humorist. He wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the latter often called "the Great American Novel". Here are 21 Mark Twain quotes for your enjoyment:

I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the "lower animals" (so called) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me. MARK TWAIN, Letters from the Earth

"Classic." A book which people praise and don't read. MARK TWAIN, Following the Equator

To string incongruities and absurdities together in a wandering and sometimes purposeless way, and seem innocently unaware that they are absurdities, is the basis of the American art, if my position is correct. MARK TWAIN, "How to Tell a Story"

The common eye sees only the outside of things, and judges by that, but the seeing eye pierces through and reads the heart and the soul, finding there capacities which the outside didn't indicate or promise, and which the other kind couldn't detect. MARK TWAIN, Joan of Arc

In order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to obtain. MARK TWAIN, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Whoever has lived long enough to find out what life is, knows how deep a debt of gratitude we owe to Adam, the first great benefactor of our race. He brought death into the world. MARK TWAIN, The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson

Do not put off till tomorrow what can be put off till day-after-tomorrow just as well. MARK TWAIN, Mark Twain's Notebook

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear -- not absence of fear. MARK TWAIN, The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson

Government is merely a servant – merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn’t. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them. MARK TWAIN, The Bible According to Mark Twain

There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. MARK TWAIN, Autobiography

Truth is mighty and will prevail. There is nothing the matter with this, except that it ain't so. MARK TWAIN, Mark Twain's Notebooks

Golf is a good walk spoiled. MARK TWAIN, Greatly Exaggerated: The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain

The holy passion of friendship is so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring in nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money. MARK TWAIN, The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson

When we remember that we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. MARK TWAIN, Mark Twain's Notebook

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. MARK TWAIN, quoted in Greg Tanghe's Pearls

The lack of money is the root of all evil. MARK TWAIN, Mark Twain's Notebook

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society. MARK TWAIN, Mark Twain's Notebook

Familiarity breeds contempt -- and children. MARK TWAIN, Mark Twain's Notebook

Ah, well, I am a great and sublime fool. But then I am God's fool, and all His works must be contemplated with respect. MARK TWAIN, letter to W. D. Howells, 1877

I would rather have my ignorance than another man's knowledge, because I have got so much more of it. MARK TWAIN, letter to William Dean Howells, Feb. 10, 1875

Denial ain't just a river in Egypt. MARK TWAIN