Mark Twain

A crime persevered in a thousand centuries ceases to be a crime, and becomes a virtue. This is the law of custom, and custom supersedes all other forms of law.

If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.

To arrive at a just estimate of a renowned man’s character one must judge it by the standards of his time, not ours.

I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him.

Never let formal education get in the way of your learning.

Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economize it.

When we get to wishing a great deal for ourselves, whatever we get soon turns into mere limitation and exclusion.

Pictures must not be too picturesque.

The torments of martyrdom are probably most keenly felt by the bystanders.

Children are all foreigners.

Liberty is slow fruit. It is never cheap; it is made difficult because freedom is the accomplishment and perfectness of man.

I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough.

In childhood be modest, in youth temperate, in adulthood just, and in old age prudent.

I look up at the universe and ask, ‘What are you trying to teach me here?’ I know I won’t hear a reply, but asking the question, makes me begin looking for the answer.

Logic is like the sword – those who appeal to it, shall perish by it.

Of the blessings set before you make your choice, and be content.

We have all seen with a sense of nausea the abject, squalid, shameless avowal made in the Oxford Union. We are told that we ought not to treat it seriously. The Times talked of the childrens hour. I disagree. It is a very disquieting and disgusting symptom. One can almost feel the curl of contempt upon the lips of the manhood of Germany, Italy, and France when they read the message sent out by Oxford University in the name of Young England. Let them be assured that it is not the last word. But before they blame, as blame they should, these callow ill-tutored youths, they must be sure that they have not been set a bad example by people much older and much higher up.

Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.

Words will not fail when the matter is well considered.

Rarely promise, but, if lawful, constantly perform.

It is hard to go beyond your public. If they are satisfied with cheap performance, you will not easily arrive at better. If they know what is good, and require it. you will aspire and burn until you achieve it. But from time to time, in history, men are born a whole age too soon.