Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
I am not the editor of a newspaper and shall always try to do right and be good so that God will not make me one.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Mark Twain expresses his intention to live a moral life free from the pressures of journalistic influence.
In this quote, Mark Twain humorously reflects on the nature of journalism and the ethical dilemmas that often accompany it. By stating that he will strive to do good so that he is not made an editor of a newspaper, he implies that the demands of that role may conflict with personal integrity and honesty, suggesting a critique of sensationalism in media and the moral choices individuals must face in their careers.
Themes
MoralityJournalismIntegrityGoodnessHumor
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about ethics in journalism.
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To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
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In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.
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