Mark Twain

You believe in a book that has talking animals, wizards, witches, demons, sticks turning into snakes, burning bushes, food falling from the sky, people walking on water, and all sorts of magical, absurd and primitive stories, and you say that we are the ones that need help?

There was never a century nor a country that was short of experts who knew the Deity’s mind and were willing to reveal it.

The newspaper that obstructs the law on a trivial pretext, for money’s sake, is a dangerous enemy to the public weal.That awful power, the public opinion of a nation, is created in America by a horde of ignorant, self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditching and shoemaking and fetched up in journalism on their way to the poorhouse.

If they had not landed there would be some reason for celebrating the fact.

There are two times in a man’s life when he should not speculate: when he can’t afford it, and when he can.

Scientists have odious manners, except when you prop up their theory; then you can borrow money of them.

A stumbling block to the pessimist is a stepping-stone to the optimist.

The hour of departure has arrived and we go our ways; I to die, and you to live. Which is better? Only God knows.

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.

The nearest way to glory is to strive to be what you wish to be thought to be.

The more you know the less you understand.

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.

Rich men without convictions are more dangerous in modern society than poor women without chastity.

The problems of victory are more agreeable than those of defeat, but they are no less difficult.

When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?

Silence is the great teacher, and to learn its lessons you must pay attention to it. There is no substitute for the creative inspiration, knowledge, and stability that come from knowing how to contact your core of inner silence. The great Sufi poet Rumi wrote, Only let the moving waters calm down, and the sun and moon will be reflected on the surface of your being.

In all our contacts it is probably the sense of being really needed and wanted which gives us the greatest satisfaction and creates the most lasting bond.

The superiority of some men is merely local. They are great because their associates are little.

There is only one failure in life possible, and that is not to be true to the best one knows.

Tomorrow is always another day to make things right.

Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.