Mark Twain

The first half of life consists of the capacity to enjoy without the chance; the last half consists of the chance without the capacity.

It is sound judgment to put on a bold face and play your hand for a hundred times what it is worth; forty-nine times out of fifty nobody dares to call it, and you roll in the chips.

It is just like man’s vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions.

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.

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

It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.

For truth is precious and divine, too rich a pearl for carnal swine.

The honest truth is that every day was new, every day was a challenge, every day was starting from a fresh place, and as time went on, over the course of about two years, things became better and better. But I don’t think that there was for me anything like, ‘Ah, this is taking too long’, because ‘long’ didn’t exist. So I see it as a blessing. I have to laugh. I mean there’s no other way to look at it.

Truth is a good dog; but always beware of barking too close to the heels of an error, lest you get your brains kicked out.

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

A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.

Man has always sacrificed truth to his vanity, comfort and advantage. He lives by makebelieve.

Tell me anyway–Maybe I can find the truth by comparing the lies.

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.

Truth will always be truth, regardless of lack of understanding, disbelief or ignorance.

There’s a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure truth.

Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn’t.

Truth, Sir, is a cow which will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull.

Do not be angry with me if I tell you the truth

The truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow. It sometimes causes us difficulties at home and abroad. It is sometimes used by our enemies in attempts to hurt us. But the American people are entitled to it, nonetheless.

Do not seek the truth, only cease to cherish your opinions.