Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Good breeding involves humility and consideration in social interactions.
Mark Twain's quote suggests that good manners are tied to a person's ability to remain humble and considerate. It implies that the essence of good breeding lies in an individual's restraint in showing their own self-importance while giving precedence to the thoughts and feelings of others, fostering a respectful and gracious social environment.
Themes
HumilityRespectSocial MannersConsiderationBreeding
In practice
Example use cases
In a formal dinner setting, to remind guests about the importance of humility and respect.
More from Mark Twain
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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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