Mark Twain

The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain was not what I expected it to be but I enjoyed it anyway. The book is structured as a dictionary of quotes arranged alphabetically by topic. The book includes topics relating to nearly every aspect of life so you are almost guaranteed to find something that interests you. After reading through many of the quotes you can really get a sense of the sharp wit and satire Mark Twain is known for. Each quote isn’t exactly what you might expect it to be which offers a cognitive shift and they are almost all clever in their own way. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book so far:

“Circumstances make man, not man circumstances.”

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

Each of these quotes offers Twain’s perspective on certain parts of life. They each point out a truth about the human condition that we ourselves often overlook or are unable to see. The first quote is about how people are often a product of their experiences in life and I have also found this to be true.  Each struggle or success has an impact on that person, their character, and how they will choose to live the rest of their life. The second quote involves thinking for yourself and not being afraid to question the status quo. Often times it is easy to just go along with what everyone else says or thinks but is important to step back and ask yourself if you really feel the same way.

I also picked out a few quotes that offer more of a cognitive shift:

“Never waste a lie; you never know when you might need it.”

“Always obey you parents, when they are present”

Again this is solid life advice except this time it comes with a bonus cognitive shift. With the first quote, most readers are expecting Twain to denounce being dishonest but instead he acknowledges how useful lies can be. In the second quote, the reader is used to hearing “always obey your parents” and by adding “when they are present” Twain says out loud what we usually think in the back of our mind when we are told to obey our parents.

The last quote I chose involves what we have been studying all semester:

“Humor is mankind’s greatest gift.”

From what we have learned this semester, I would agree with Mark on this one. Humor keeps life interesting and enjoyable and perhaps no one knew this more than Mark Twain.