Quotes: Mark Twain’s American brand of humor
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Mark Twain's writings were rooted in a new and distinctly American approach to humor. Here are some memorable quotes from his books, notebooks and speeches.
God created war so that Americans would learn geography.
– The Innocents Abroad
If I cannot swear in heaven, I shall not stay there.
– notebook
There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist, except an old optimist.
– notebook
We have a criminal jury system which is superior to any in the world; and its efficiency is only marred by the difficulty of finding 12 men every day who don’t know anything and can’t read.
– Americans and the English speech
If a person offends you and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures. Simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick.
– Advice to Youth speech
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.
– unknown
It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.
– Following the Equator