Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
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.
Interpretation
This quote humorously critiques the Parisians' reaction to foreigners speaking French, highlighting a disconnect in communication.
Mark Twain's quote reflects on the cultural interactions experienced when attempting to communicate in a foreign language. His use of humor emphasizes the absurdity of the situation where the locals seemed oblivious to the efforts of outsiders, illustrating both the challenges of language barriers and the comedic moments that arise from them.
In practice
This quote is a great icebreaker at a language exchange event.
Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
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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.
Some things you can't find out; but you will never know you can't by guessing and supposing: no, you have to be patient and go on experimenting until you find out that you can't find out.
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Our most noted satirists are true columnists, and their opinions can be worth more than any well-documented expose.
Dreading that climax of all human ills the inflammation of his weekly bills.
The two things in the world we all share in this world are laughter and pain. We've all got problems. The levels of those problems vary, but we've all got problems. When you can take things that are painful and make them funny, that's a gift - to you and your audience.
Let no man thirst for good beer.
No matter what she did with her hair it took about three minutes for it to tangle itself up again, like a garden hosepipe in a shed [Which, no matter how carefully coiled, will always uncoil overnight and tie the lawnmower to the bicycles].
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