Mark Twain

Where a blood relation sobs, an intimate friend should choke up, a distant acquaintance should sigh, a stranger should merely fumble sympathetically with his handkerchief.

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.

Monarchies, aristocracies, and religions are all based upon that large defect in your race – the individual’s distrust of his neighbor, and his desire, for safety’s or comfort’s sake, to stand well in his neighbor’s eye. These institutions will always remain, and always flourish, and always oppress you, affront you, and degrade you, because you will always be and remain slaves of minorities. There was never a country where the majority of the people were in their secret hearts loyal to any of these institutions.

It isn’t safe to sit in judgment upon another person’s illusion when you are not on the inside. While you are thinking it is a dream, he may be knowing it is a planet.

Warm summer sun, shine kindly here. Warm southern wind, blow softly here. Green sod above, lie light, lie light. Good night, dear Heart, Good night, good night.

I have not a particle of confidence in a man who has no redeeming vices.

Men are conservatives when they are least vigorous, or when they are most luxurious. They are conservatives after dinner, or before taking their rest; when they are sick or aged. In the morning, or when their intellect or their conscience has been aroused, when they hear music, or when they read poetry, they are radicals.

I like not only to be loved, but also to be told that I am loved. I am not sure that you are of the same mind. But the realm of silence is large enough beyond the grave. This is the world of light and speech, and I shall take leave to tell you that you are very dear.

In every man there is something wherein I may learn of him, and in that I am his pupil.

Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.

I showed my appreciation of my native land in the usual Irish way: by getting out of it as soon as I possibly could.

The fibers of all things have their tension and are strained like the strings of an instrument.

Solitude is impractical and yet society is fatal.

The greatest homage we can pay truth is to use it.

Let your family, staff, and friends know that you’re still the same person, despite all the publicity and notoriety that accompanies your position.

We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it as not as dreadful as it appears, discovering that we have the strength to stare it down.

Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great.

Fidelity is the sister of justice.

The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error.

He is a modest little man who has a good deal to be modest about.

The fickleness of the women I love is only equalled by the infernal constancy of the women who love me.