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.'

Duties are not performed for duty's sake, but because their neglect would make the man uncomfortable. Mark Twain
A man performs but one duty - the duty of contenting his spirit, the duty of making himself agreeable to himself. Mark Twain
We do not deal much in facts when we are contemplating ourselves. Mark Twain
When you cannot get a compliment any other way, pay yourself one. Mark Twain
It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. Mark Twain
When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. Mark Twain
Hunger is the handmaid of genius. Mark Twain
In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane. Mark Twain
Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising. Mark Twain
The man who is a pessimist before 48 knows too much if he is an optimist after it, he knows too little. Mark Twain
I am not one of those who in expressing opinions confine themselves to facts. Mark Twain
My conscience is more trouble and bother to me than anything else I started with. Mark Twain
Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option. Mark Twain
Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more. Mark Twain
To lodge all power in one party and keep it there is to insure bad government and the sure and gradual deterioration of the public morals. Mark Twain
It will take mind and memory months and possibly years to gather together the details and thus learn and know the whole extent of the loss. Mark Twain
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear. Mark Twain
We adore titles and heredities in our hearts and ridicule them with our hearts and ridicule them with our mouths; this is our democratic privilege. Mark Twain
Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it. Mark Twain
Conservatism is the blind and fear-filled worship of dead radicals. Mark Twain
I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All I care to know is that a man is a human being, and that is enough for me; he can't be any worse. Mark Twain
The principle of give and take is the principle of diplomacy give one and take ten. Mark Twain
The only people who should use the possessive 'we' are kings, newspaper editors, and persons with tapeworms. Mark Twain
Let us be grateful to Adam: he cut us out of the blessing of idleness and won for us the curse of labor. Mark Twain
Focus more on your desire than on your doubt, and the dream will take care of itself. Mark Twain
The Bible is] a mass of fables and traditions, mere mythology. Mark Twain
Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of other persons. Mark Twain
It is not best that we use our morals week days; it gets them out for repair for Sundays. Mark Twain
But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most? Mark Twain
“A successful book is not made of what is in it, but what is left out of it.” Mark Twain