161 Quotes By Mark Twain


The holy passion of Friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money.
Mark Twain on friendship

The kingly office is entitled to no respect. It was originally procured by the highwayman's methods; it remains a perpetuated crime, can never be anything but the symbol of a crime. It is no more entitled to respect than is the flag of a pirate.
Mark Twain on government

There are people who can do all fine and heroic things but one - keep from telling their happiness to the unhappy.
Mark Twain on happiness

When in doubt tell the truth.
Mark Twain on honesty

It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.
Mark Twain on honor

It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native criminal class except Congress.
Mark Twain on legislation

We Americans... bear the ark of liberties of the world.
Mark Twain on liberty

Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.
Mark Twain on marriage

Morals are an acquirement - like music, like a foreign language, like piety, poker, paralysis - no man is born with them.
Mark Twain on morals

What a good thing Adam had. When he said a good thing, he knew nobody had said it before.
Mark Twain on plagiarism

To promise not to do a thing is the surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing.
Mark Twain on promise

The educated Southerner has no use for an 'R', except at the beginning of a word.
Mark Twain on speech

All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then Success is sure.
Mark Twain on success

There is no use in your walking five miles to fish when you can depend on being just as unsuccessful near home.
Mark Twain on success

I don't know of a single foreign product that enters this country untax
Mark Twain on taxes

There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is cowardice.
Mark Twain on temptation

Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economize it.
Mark Twain on truth

In Boston they ask, how much does he know? In New York, how much is he worth? In Philadelphia, who were his parents?
Mark Twain on wealth

There is an old-time toast which is golden for its beauty. "When you ascend the hill of prosperity may you not meet a friend.
Mark Twain on wealth

Prosperity is the surest breeder of insolence I know.
Mark Twain on wealth