Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
Praise is well, compliment is well, but affection-that is the last and most precious reward that any man can win, whether by character or achievement.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Affection is the highest form of appreciation one can receive for their character or accomplishments.
In this quote, Mark Twain emphasizes the importance of affection over mere praise or compliments. While recognition for achievements and good character is valuable, it is the deep, personal connection expressed through affection that holds the most significance, making it the ultimate reward a person can earn in life.
Themes
AffectionPraiseComplimentRewardCharacter
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational talk, one could use this quote to highlight the significance of genuine connections over superficial accolades.
More from Mark Twain
All quotes βThe 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.
Mark TwainRead
You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns.
Mark TwainRead
To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
Mark TwainRead
Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.
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.
Mark TwainRead
Similar quotes
Without solitude, Love will not stay long by your side.
Paulo CoelhoRead
There is no trick to writing a believable love story, a heartbreaking scene or real-sounding dialogue. All you need is to tell the truth. Itβs always heartbreaking.
Ethan HawkeRead
When two people loved each other they worked together always, two against the world, a little company. Joy was shared; trouble was split. You had an ally.
Paul GallicoRead
Love the people you think you'd want to be with in the hereafter.
Omar SuleimanRead
I don't want to turn any of this into poetry / but / you're so beautiful / flowers turn their heads to smell you
Shane KoyczanRead
My only grudge against nature was that I could not turn my Lolita inside out and apply voracious lips to her young matrix, her unknown heart, her nacreous liver, the sea-grapes of her lungs, her comely twin kidneys.
Vladimir NabokovRead