Mark Twain was an American novelist who challenged us to forego a mediocre life, and strive for more. In that, he tasked us with looking at the ordinary life – the type we are contented with – and the type of life we truly want to live.
Are we happy now, or should we strive for more? He challenged us to dare, to “go out on a limb”, and be brave.
With that, I give you some inspirational Mark Twain quotes that will hopefully inspire your way of thinking.
Famous Mark Twain Quotes To Challenge Your Thoughts
1. “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” – Mark Twain
2. “Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain.” – Mark Twain
3. “Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” – Mark Twain
4. “It is wiser to find out than to suppose.” – Mark Twain
5. “Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.” – Mark Twain
6. “Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
7. “′Classic′ – a book which people praise and don’t read.” – Mark Twain
8. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain
9. “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” – Mark Twain
10. “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” – Mark Twain
11. “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” – Mark Twain
12. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did.” – Mark Twain
13. “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain
14. “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.” – Mark Twain
15. “Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.” – Mark Twain
16. “Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you would rather have talked.” – Mark Twain
17. “I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn’t know.” – Mark Twain
Insightful Mark Twain Quotes on Life and Learning
18. “Do something every day that you don’t want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.” – Mark Twain
19. “Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.” – Mark Twain
20. “Break the rules.” – Mark Twain
21. “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” – Mark Twain
22. “With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity.” – Mark Twain
23. “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” – Mark Twain
24. “Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful of your life.” – Mark Twain
25. “Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been.” – Mark Twain
26. “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” – Mark Twain
27. “I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.” – Mark Twain
28. “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.” – Mark Twain
29. “Books are for people who wish they were somewhere else.” – Mark Twain
30. “Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.” – Mark Twain
31. “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” – Mark Twain
32. “Always do what is right. It will gratify half of mankind and astound the other.” – Mark Twain
33. “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man.” – Mark Twain
34. “If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Mark Twain
More Mark Twain Quotes and Sayings
35. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain
36. “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” – Mark Twain
37. “If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you’re misinformed.” – Mark Twain
38. “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” – Mark Twain
39. “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain
40. “Don’t let schooling interfere with your education.” – Mark Twain
41. “I’ve lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.” – Mark Twain
42. “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great.” – Mark Twain
43. “Education: the path from cocky ignorance to miserable uncertainty.” – Mark Twain
44. “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” – Mark Twain
45. “The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself.” – Mark Twain
46. “Don’t part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist, but you have ceased to live.” – Mark Twain
47. “A clear conscience is the sure sign of a bad memory.” – Mark Twain
48. “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority it is time to pause and reflect.” – Mark Twain
49. “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” – Mark Twain
50. “Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection.” – Mark Twain
Did these Mark Twain quotes spark new thoughts in you?
Beginning is always the hardest part. But even so, persevere and look forward to the day when you can finally say that you did everything you could to achieve the life of your dreams. Let it begin with a simple thought: a word, a phrase, a quote.
Hopefully, these Mark Twain quotes would be the spark you need to make the right changes.
