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Quote by Mark Twain

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The Innocents Abroad: or, The New Pilgrims' Progress

Mark Twain's satirical account of a group of American tourists on a grand tour of the world's wonders, offering a critical look at the era's cultural and social norms. more

Author

Mark Twain
Mark Twain

Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was a renowned American author and humorist in the 19th century. His works are characterized by humor, satire, and profound social insight, with notable novels such as 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'. more

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“Would it not be prudent to get our civilization tools together, and see how much stock is left on hand in the way of Glass Beads and Theology, and Maxim Guns and Hymn Books, and Trade Gin and Torches of Progress and Enlightenment (patent adjustable ones, good to fire villages with, upon occasion), and balance the books, and arrive at the profit and loss, so that we may intelligently decide whether to continue the business or sellout the property and start a new Civilization Scheme on the proceeds.”

WayMayBookHandsTogetherLeftLossFireProgressBalanceCivilizationEnlightenmentGunToolsTradePropertyGlassesProfitTheologyOccasionsVillageSchemesMaximsTorchesPrudentHymnsPatentsGinBeadsProfit And Loss
Book:The Portable Mark Twain
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“Every civilization carries the seeds of its own destruction, and the same cycle shows in them all. The Republic is born, flourishes, decays into plutocracy, and is captured by the shoemaker whom the mercenaries and millionaires make into a king. The people invent their oppressors, and the oppressors serve the function for which they are invented.”

PeopleShowsBornKingsCivilizationDestructionFunctionSeedsCarrieCyclesRepublicDecayMillionaireCapturedOppressorsPlutocracy
Book:Mark Twain in eruption: hitherto unpublished pages about men and events
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“If you will notice, there is seldom a telegram in a paper which fails to show up one or more members & beneficiaries of our Civilization as promenading with his shirt-tail up & the rest of his regalia in the wash.”

IfsShowsFailingCivilizationMembersPaperShirtsTailsBeneficiariesTelegrams
Book:Mark Twain-Howells Letters: The Correspondence of Samuel L. Clemens and William D. Howells, 1872-1910
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