Mark Twain was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer from the 19th century best known for his novels — Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. His signature style of witty, sardonic, and sometimes biting humor has been read for generations, as have his iconic quotes. By perusing the thoughts of Twain, we can begin to understand the wit and wisdom of one of the most iconic personalities in American literature.
Twain’s quotes, which are mostly centered around the topics of life, human behavior, and societal issues, are famous for their wit, sarcasm and timeless nature. He wrote about deep issues in life in a humorous, memorable way. Many of his quotes have been adapted and used to address social and political issues, but can also be applied to everyday life. One of the many Twain quotes people are familiar with is “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
Twain’s ability to see right through people and societal traps was unparalleled. “Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one,” is another quote attributed to him. By sharing these and other such perceptive quotations, Twain has proven his mettle as world-renowned thinker and one of America’s greatest authors. Erudite and experienced, Twain spoke of the complexity of relationships, offering such insightful advice as “Don’t part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist, but you have ceased to live.”
Experts view Twain’s words through the lens of his experience and teachings. According to Professor James Corner, a leading Twain scholar from the University of Washington, “The simplicity of the language used in Twain’s quotes serves to illuminate complex scenarios and provide words of encouragement or advice. That is why people still find them applicable in current circumstances, instead of merely understanding them as a product of a bygone era.”
The majority of Twain’s quotes carry an undertone of wisdom. He employs metaphors and imagery to drive home salient points. A prime example of this is “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” Twain’s quotes remind people of their responsibilities and suggest ways to take control of their lives by using one’s wit. He understands the dynamics of life, particularly the way people interact with each other.
Another famous Twain quote is “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you figure out why.” It instills the need for self-knowledge and highlights the importance of understanding life’s purpose. It is an eye-opening quote, teaching us the significance of questions such as “Why am I here?” and “What is my purpose?” And it provides a simple formula for life: Live in the present and use your best judgment; only you can answer life’s questions.
Twain’s Quotes on Success
Twain’s quotes about success reflect his unique perspective on life’s struggles and lessons. One such quote reads “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” Twain is suggesting that success is achieved through perseverance and thoughtful decision-making. To be able to excel, one must assess the situation and find an alternative. This quote also encourages us to question perceived wisdom and expectations, rather than simply following along.
Twain also emphasizes the importance of understanding and valuing the journey, which is the only way to achieving anything worthwhile. In his most well known quote, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started,” Twain is subtly encouraging us to take the first step and let the rest of the journey unfold. He is emphasizing the importance of a positive attitude, hard work, and resilience to overcome any hurdle.
However, Twain also conveys that sometimes failure is the best course of action. He famously said “Whenever you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.” Twain teaches us that if something isn’t working, there is no sense in persisting and making things worse. Instead, the best course of action is to take a step back and evaluate the situation, using a different perspective. By accepting failure as a means to learn and grow, Twain is offering us another unique way to test our mettle and strive for success.
Twain’s Quotes on Innovation
According to Mark Twain, challenging the status quo is the cornerstone of innovation. In his most popular quote, Twain sounds off: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” In other words, Twain is urging us to be bold and take risks, while questioning the accepted norm.
Twain also extols the virtues of traditional wisdom and insight. In another quote, he said, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Twain is suggesting that age is no barrier to pushing boundaries and challenging existing methods. Age is just a number and should not be used as an excuse for stagnation. All people, no matter their age, can innovate and push the world forward.
Finally, Twain encourages us to embrace adversity, as it can lead to success in many cases. His quote “An act of adventure is more important than an act of caution” expresses Twain’s belief that it is only by taking calculated risks that we can truly move forward. This includes being willing to fail, making mistakes, and taking risks we wouldn’t usually consider. Twain is conveying that it is in these moments that we will find the opportunity to innovate and eventually succeed.
Twain’s Quotes on Relationships
The iconic American writer has some memorable quotes on relationships that have been quoted time and time again. A popular one is “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” Twain’s keen insight into human nature forces us to take a hard look at those around us, questioning whether we should divest our energy from those with a negative attitude.
Another popular quote on relationships is “I glance at the headlines of a morning paper and scratch my head when I see two nations in mortal combat over the placement of a comma.” This quote sheds light on the incredible distance that humans can drive between each other. The two nations can be anything from two countries on the brink of war or two people with dramatically different perspectives. Twain’s words suggest that much of the strife between us is a result of petty trivialities and small misunderstandings.
And one final quote highlights Twain’s dry humor and wit: “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.” Twain is highlighting that relationships are a two-way street. It is through respect, compassion, and grace that one can forge and keep relationships that truly matter.
Twain’s Quotes on Society
Twain had a general lack of patience for the hypocritical nature of society. In one of his remarks, Twain called out culture’s tendency to vilify a man by highlighting his errors while ignoring his virtues. “When the alternate vices of envy and calumny have done their foul work, there remains but a battered and blackened ruin; and all the pains of the rehabilitating process have to be gone through before the right character appears.” Twain astutely understood that the harshness of society’s lens can often overlook people’s goodness and make it hard to rise again.
Twain was also aware of the insidiousness of prejudice. In another quote he said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” Twain is suggesting that if we want to understand each other, we need to literally step into one another’s shoes and gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be human.
Twain had plenty to say when it came to society’s inequalities, opining, “The wrong is usually more conspicuous than the right, but unless both are exposed, it is difficult to make a choice between them.” Twain acknowledges that while injustices are more visible, they shouldn’t be the only focus. If a meaningful judgment is to be made, it requires us to not just recognize the wrong, but also the right.
