Samuel Clemens Quotes
Samuel Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, and lecturer renowned for works like *The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn* and *Tom Sawyer* He is celebrated not only for his literary contributions but also for his sharp wit and insightful observations on human nature, society, and life
One of his most famous quotes is: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect” He also said, “If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything,” a remark that highlights his appreciation for honesty Another well-known saying attributed to him is, “The man who carries a cat by the tail learns something that can be learned in no other way”
Twain often used humor to critique societal norms. For instance, he quipped, “Familiarity breeds contempt — and children”, and “Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest”, a variation of which appears as “Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest”
On the subject of reading and classics, Twain offered the ironic observation: “It’s a classic… something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read” He also valued personal connection in reading, stating, “It is so unsatisfactory to read a noble passage and have no one you love at hand to share the happiness with you”
Regarding knowledge and learning, he noted, “Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please”, and “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 also reflected on personal growth and experience: “Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside”, and “Love everyone, trust no one, and cut the cards” — though the latter, while often attributed to him, does not appear in the provided sources.
He held strong views on freedom and the press: “There are laws to protect the freedom of the press's speech, but none that are worth anything to protect the people from the press”, and criticized public opinion, calling it “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”
Despite his humor, Twain expressed deep philosophical thoughts: “Loyalty to petrified opinions never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world — and never will”, a quote engraved on his bust in the National Hall of Fame.
Some quotes commonly attributed to Twain, such as “The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco,” are disputed and may not be his Similarly, a quote stating, “My greatest regret is being remembered not for what I've said, but for what has been said that I've said,” is likely misattributed
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