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Quote by Mark Twain

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Mark Twain: Selected Writings of an American Skeptic

Mark Twain established himself as a formidable American skeptic through his essays, letters, and public writings that challenged religious piety, exposed social hypocrisy, and questioned authority. This collection gathers selections that showcase his independent thinking and refusal to accept conventional wisdom without examination. His distinctive humor serves as a vehicle for deeper philosophical and social critique, revealing the mind of an author who interrogated the beliefs and practices of his era with incisive logic and satirical edge. The writings reflect Twain's evolution from aRiverboat pilot to a cultural commentator who maintained a healthy distrust of organized institutions and received wisdom throughout his long literary career. 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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“There are no witches. The witch text remains; only the practice has changed. Hell fire is gone, but the text remains. Infant damnation is gone, but the text remains. More than two hundred death penalties are gone from the law books, but the texts that authorized them remain.”

“If science exterminates a disease which has been working for God, it is God that gets the credit and all the pulpits break into grateful advertising-raptures and call attention to how good he is. Yes, he has done it. Perhaps he waited a thousand years before doing it. They forget to say that he is the slowest mover in the universe, that his Eye That Never Sleeps, might as well, since it takes a century to see what any other eye can see in a week.”

“Where was the use, originally, in rushing this whole globe through in six days? It is likely that if more time had been taken in the first place, the world would have been made right, and this ceaseless improving and repairing would not be necessary now. But if you hurry a world or a house, you are nearly sure to find out by and by that you have left out a towhead, or a broom-closet, or some other little convenience, here and there, which has got to be supplied, no matter how much expense or vexation it may cost.”