Mark Twain

Prosperity is the surest breeder of insolence I know.

Man – a creature made at the end of the week’s work when God was tired.

Plain question and plain answer make the shortest road out of most perplexities.

The true charm of pedestrianism does not lie in the walking, or in the scenery, but in the talking. The walking is good to time the movement of the tongue by, and to keep the blood and the brain stirred up and active; the scenery and the woodsy smells are good to bear in upon a man an unconscious and unobtrusive charm and solace to eye and soul and sense; but the supreme pleasure comes from the talk.

A human being has a natural desire to have more of a good thing than he needs.

Sacred cows make the best hamburger.

Knowledge always demands increase; it is like fire, which must first be kindled by some external agent, but will afterwards always propagate itself.

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.

Prudence operates on life in the same manner as rule of composition; it produces vigilance rather than elevation; rather prevents loss than procures advantage; and often miscarriages, but seldom reaches either power or honor.

It is in life as it is in ways, the shortest way is commonly the foulest, and surely the fairer way is not much about.

No just cause is futile, even if it’s lost, if it helps make the future better than the past.

The ideal form of government is democracy tempered with assassination.

Your mind makes a cruel master, but a generous servant.

He looks the whole world in the face for he owes not any man.

Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.

You cannot run faster than a bullet.

Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.

Never tell the truth to people who are not worthy of it.

When we direct our thoughts properly, we can control our emotions…

Beauty is all very well at first sight; but who ever looks at it when it has been in the house three days?

What you seek in vain for, half your life, one day you come full upon, all the family at dinner. You seek it like a dream, and as soon as you find it, you become its prey.