Mark Twain, Mark Twain's Autobiography

We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.

Mark Twain, Mark Twain's Autobiography

When a person cannot deceive himself the chances are against his being able to deceive other people.

Mark Twain, Mark Twain's Autobiography

Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.

Mark Twain, Mark Twain's Notebook, 1935

The report of my death was an exaggeration.

Mark Twain, New York Journal, June 2, 1897

The radical of one century is the conservative of the next. The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them.

Mark Twain, Notebook, 1935

Familiarity breeds contempt - and children.

Mark Twain, Notebooks (1935)

Good breeding consists of concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.

Mark Twain, Notebooks (1935)

What a good thing Adam had. When he said a good thing he knew nobody had said it before.

Mark Twain, Notebooks (1935)

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An enemy can partly ruin a man, but it takes a good-natured injudicious friend to complete the thing and make it perfect.