The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain: A Book of Quotations

This book is a collection of thoughts and quips that help me reset my outlook on life. Old fashioned wisdom for modern life.

Enjoy few quotes from this humorous book, then go and buy a copy: ADVERTISING During his days as a journalist, the young Mark Twain once edited a small newspaper in Missouri. A subscriber wrote in, saying that he had found a spider in his paper and asked whether this was a sign of good or bad uck. Twain answered: "Dear Subscriber: Finding a spider in your paper was neither good luck nor bad luck for you. The spider was merely looking over our paper to see which merchant is not advertising so that he can go to that store, spin his web across the door and lead a life of undisturbed peace ever afterward." ADVICE It is beter to give than receive - especially advice. Mark Twain was always willing to donate free advice to the needy and the unsuspecting. "It's notble to be good", he said, "and it's nobler to teach others to be good, and less trouble." Whenever you find that you are on the side of majority, it is time to reform (- or pause and reflect). BELIEFS If the man doesn't believe as we do, we say he is a crank, and that settles it. I mean, it does nowadays, because now we can't burn him. SURGERY Mark Twain offered this advice on the proper state of mind for undergoing surgery: "Console yourself with the reflection that you are giving the doctor pleasure, and that he is getting paid for it." INSULTS When Mark Twain disapproved of someone, he was not likely o keep it a secret. A remark he made on hearing of the death of an annoying person is typical: "He has done a thing for me which I wouldn't even have done for myself. If he will only stay dead now I will call the account square and drop the grudge I bear him."

I will begin by saying that I love Mark Twain and particularly enjoy a lot of his quotes and clever thoughts. This book has almost all the ones I like and definitely all the ones that can make people laugh or even think. Though he wrote primarily in the latter decades of the 19th century, human nature and the nature of politics and religion make a lot of these insightful quotes and clever statements still applicable today. My one gripe with the book, and this is not wholly its fault is that while these quotes are powerful on their own, they lose some of their power and focus when they are divorced from the works they came from. This makes this book a good reference for fun or quotes, but not the best way to digest Twain. Even so I'm not going to say "no" to this one.

Who does not like Mark Twain? One of the greatest writers, his take on life speaks for itself. Nice to have some quotations he wrote. Though the book has many there is still a lot it does not have. Still a good book to have.

As expected

HE IS THE BEST

A beautiful collection of Samuel Clemens. Great thoughts and words. Just buy it and enjoy his insights.

What was Mark Twain like in real life? It would be interesting to know. His quotes belie an immense practicality wrapped in profound expression. Mark Twain is one of those people near the top of the heap of people I have 'known' in my life who were not just a step ahead of me, or two steps ahead of me, but three steps ahead of me at every turn and no matter how hard I try I have never, and never will, catch up with them. They are always on the next page before me. Herein lies Mark Twains brilliance .... I don't mind that this is the case. With other people like this I have resented their 'superiority' over me, my inability to catch up with them. In the case of Mark Twain I just want to sit there and marvel at him as I read his words of wit and wisdom. Buy this book people, it is a bargain at twice the price. Here's a quote by Mark Twain I didn't see in the book, 'Denial ain't just a river in Egypt!'

I love Mark Twain's books and his whitty sense of humour, this book is a book of quotes he has said in his long and varied career, they make you laugh and think and in some of them your brain hurts until it clicks what he meant. You have to have read him to understand his humour and for me this book was great with quotes I have since used. I found it brilliant.

Selection of quotes is meticulously done.

Eine schöne Sammlung von Twain's Weisheiten. Sehr kurzweilig zu lesen und sicherlich auch als Geschenk geeignet. Man bekommt das was man erwartet.

Just started to read his book Mark Twain makes a lot of sense and he’s got a good sense of humour Bought The adventures of Huckleberry Finn the complete short stories of Mark Twain the adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain on common sense Lots of good reading

The wonderful quips, quotes, repartee and humour of the man considered as the father of American literature... Great stuff! Every reading puts me a little more in awe of him...