Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
Men think they think upon the great political questions, and they do; but they think with their party, not independently; they read its literature, but not that of the other side
Interpretation
People often form opinions based on their political affiliations rather than independent thought.
Mark Twain highlights how individuals may believe they are engaging in deep political reasoning, yet their thoughts are largely influenced by their political party. This illustrates the challenges of unbiased thinking in society where people tend to consume information that aligns with their existing beliefs, neglecting opposing viewpoints that could lead to a more well-rounded understanding.
In practice
During a debate on social media, this quote can be used to remind others about the importance of seeking different perspectives.
Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
The easy part of being an artist is figuring out the message that everyone else is ready to hear. The hard part is waiting for the proper lull to make the announcement.
You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns.
To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.
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.
It’s like losing gravity and falling into space – the moment of pitching headlong when the endlessness of space asserts itself and there is no more down, only an eternity of up, and you realize you can fall forever and never run out of stars.
Heaven but the vision of fulfilled desire, and Hell the shadow from a soul on fire.
To be oneself is a rare thing, and a great one.
Since men cannot create new forces, but merely combine and control those which already exist, the only way in which they can preserve themselves is by uniting their separate powers in a combination strong enough to overcome any resistance, uniting them so that their powers are directed by a single motive and act in concert.
A businessman cannot force you to buy his product; if he makes a mistake, he suffers the consequences; if he fails, he takes the loss. If bureaucrat makes a mistake, you suffer the consequences; if he fails, he passes the loss on to you.
Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.