Mark Twain Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old Mark Twain quotes, Mark Twain sayings, and Mark Twain proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.'

The very ink with which history is written is merely fluid prejudice. Mark Twain
To refuse awards is another way of accepting them with more noise than is normal. Mark Twain
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. Mark Twain
The very ink with which history is written is merely fluid prejudice. Mark Twain
Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel. Mark Twain
An ecstasy is a thing that will not go into words; it feels like music. Mark Twain
Great enterprises usually promise vastly more than they perform. Mark Twain
The more you explain it, the more I don't understand it. Mark Twain
Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company. Mark Twain
The wit knows that his place is at the tail of a procession. Mark Twain
Wit is the sudden marriage of ideas which before their union were not perceived to have any relation. Mark Twain
We do not deal much in facts when we are contemplating ourselves. Mark Twain
It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them. Mark Twain
Information appears to stew out of me naturally, like the precious otter of roses out of the otter. Mark Twain
The highest perfection of politeness is only a beautiful edifice, built, from the base to the dome, of ungraceful and gilded forms of charitable and unselfish lying. Mark Twain
The art of prophecy is very difficult, especially with respect to the future. Mark Twain
Prophecy: Two bull's eyes out of a possible million. Mark Twain
The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation. Mark Twain
Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. Mark Twain
Laws are sand, customs are rock. Laws can be evaded and punishment escaped but an openly transgressed custom brings sure punishment. Mark Twain
Who is to decide what ought to command my reverence--my neighbor or I? . . You can't have reverence for a thing that doesn't command it. If you could do that, you could digest what you haven't eaten, and do other miracles and get a reputation. Mark Twain
We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in itand stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove-lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove-lid againand that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore. Mark Twain
Simplified spelling is all right, but, like chastity, you can carry it too far. Mark Twain
The English alphabet is pure insanity…, It can hardly spell any word in the language with any degree of certainty. Mark Twain
They spell it Vinci and pronounce it Vinchy; foreigners always spell better than they pronounce. Mark Twain
Happiness ain't a thing in itself --it's only a contrast with something that ain't pleasant. And so, as soon as the novelty is over and the force of the contrast dulled, it ain't happiness any longer, and you have to get something fresh. Mark Twain
Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are pliable. Mark Twain
The trouble with the world is not that people know too little; it's that they know so many things that just aren't so. Mark Twain
Be wise as a serpent and wary as a dove! Mark Twain
The catfish is plenty good enough fish for anyone. Mark Twain