Today's letter is T....
Image via WikipediaOne of the most famous and loved American writer of all times was Mark Twain. Below are a few of the quotes he left us and they are just as applicable now as the day he wrote them.
On growing old...
"When I was younger I could remember anything, whether it happened or not."
"Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen."
On Human Nature...
"The more things are forbidden, the more popular they become."
"Action speaks louder than words but no nearly as often."
On succeeding in life...
"To succeed in life you need two things: ignorance and confidence."
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
He must have had governments and politicians in mind with these...
"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time , and your government when it deserves it."
"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please."
"The more you explain it, the more I don't understand it."
And remember his advice when you think about politics and governments...
"When angry, count to four. When very angry, swear."
Twain's advice on writing...
"Substitute "Damn" every time you are inclined to write "Very"; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be."
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug."
And as a last bit of advice remember this one...
"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living.
The world owes you nothing. It was here first."
8 comments:
Fabulous quotes! He would have been great to meet.
I was so glad to see my favorite one listed first, ""When I was younger I could remember anything, whether it happened or not."
I love Mark Twain. Thanks for reminding me of his brilliance.
Laura, I think so too. Just think of the stories he could tell.
Hi Rhonda, I like that one too.
Hi Betty, I think everyone does. Don't they???
Hi Pamela Jo. I meant to follow your posts this challenge and I think this is the first time I've gotten to you. Crazy, innit?
Roland would love this one. The wisdom of Mark Twain, eh? He was so much more than 'just' a writer.
Denise<3
If you are looking for my challenge it is on L'Aussie Travel. I'm comparing Edward Cullen with Rochester on L'Aussie Writing ATM.
Hi Denise, I have been traveling the world with you this month. But this challenge is crazy. I can't keep up with everyone I want to. I spend most of Sunday playing catch up.
As to Roland he was on my mind the whole time I was writing this one.
Hi, Pamela Jo :
I do really love Mark Twain. I had his ghost as a sidekick in my blog serial GHOST OF A CHANCE. Him and the ghost of Marlene Dietrich. I had a blast writing a chase/murder mystery with those two at my side.
I even used him in a Sam McCord short story with Samuel Clemens as a 12 year old scamp in deadly nightmare trouble.
Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting -- it means a lot to me, Roland
Hi Roland, I read the Sam McCord short story as well as a lot of the Ghost of a Chance posts. I am still catching up on them. I am hooked on your writing.
I was actually thinking of that when I was writing this post.
Thanks for dropping by and commenting.
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