Mark Twain

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

There are no grades of vanity, there are only grades of ability in concealing it.

Faith is believing what you know ain’t so.

A big leather-bound volume makes an ideal razor strap. A thin book is useful to stick under a table with a broken caster to steady it. A large, flat atlas can be used to cover a window with a broken pane. And a thick, old-fashioned heavy book with a clasp is the finest thing in the world to throw at a noisy cat.

It was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race.

Laws control the lesser man… Right conduct controls the greater one.

The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us. Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star.

Solitude is impractical and yet society is fatal.

All the reasonings of men are not worth one sentiment of women.

Although the masters make the rules for the wise men and the fools got nothing, Ma, to live up to.

God’s first creature, which was light.

In failing circumstances no one can be relied on to keep their integrity.

Help a man against his will and you do the same as murder him.

Youth is wasted on the young.

Love is only one of many passions.

I was born upon thy bank, river, my blood flows in thy stream, and thou meanderest forever. At the bottom of my dream.

They must first judge themselves, that presume to censure others: And such will not be apt to overshoot the Mark. We are too ready to retaliate, rather than forgive, or gain by Love and Information. And yet we could hurt no Man that we believe loves us. Let us then try what Love will do: For if Men did once see we Love them, we should soon find they would not harm us. Force may subdue, but Love gains: And he that forgives first, wins the [Laurel]. If I am even with my Enemy, the Debt is paid; but if I forgive it, I oblige him for ever.

Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished.

What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.

Surely life, if it be not long, is tedious, since we are forced to call in the assistance of so many trifles to rid us of our time, of that time which never can return.

There is no thought in any mind, but it quickly tends to convert itself into power.