Mark Twain

It is difference of opinion that makes horse races.

It is nobler to be good, and it is nobler to teach others to be good – and less trouble!

Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.

My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.

Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.

If you believe, you will. If you don’t, you won’t.

Courage is grace under pressure.

My entire life can be described in one sentence. It didn’t go as planned and that’s OK.

The personal life deeply lived always expands into truths beyond itself.

We have enough in our country to let us deep into the springs of human life if we only cherished what we have.

To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did; I ought to know because I’ve done it a thousand times.

Life is a marathon, it’s not a sprint.

If someone out there doesn’t agree with me, then somewhere a village is missing their idiot.

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.

Much depends on people knowing what opportunity means; it doesn’t mean a silver platter, it oftener means a spade. Self-help means something sterner than ‘help yourself’–reach over and take it.

Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.

One of the hardest things for a parent to have to do is to tell your children that your other parent has died.

A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.

Be your authentic self. Your authentic self is who you are when you have no fear of judgment, or before the world starts pushing you around and telling you who you’re supposed to be. Your fictional self is who you are when you have a social mask on to please everyone else. Give yourself permission to be your authentic self.