Sunday, February 19, 2006

Quotations by Mark Twain IX



Virtue has never been as respectable as money.


The true charm of pedestrianism does not lie in the walking, or in the scenery, but in the talking. The walking is good to time the movement of the tongue by, and to keep the blood and the brain stirred up and active; the scenery and the woodsy smells are good to bear in upon a man an unconscious and unobtrusive charm and solace to eye and soul and sense; but the supreme pleasure comes from the talk.


Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.


A man never reaches that dizzy height of wisdom that he can no longer be lead by the nose.


Wit and Humor -- if any difference, it is in duration -- lightning and electric light. Same material, apparently; but one is vivid, and can do damage -- the other fools along and enjoys elaboration.


Wit is the sudden marriage of ideas which, before their union, were not perceived to have any relation.


The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.


Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions.


Thunder is impressive, but it is lightning that does the work.


Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.


Write without pay until somebody offers to pay you. If nobody offers within three years, sawing wood is what you were intended for.

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