4 Timeless Life Lessons from the Great Mark Twain
Mark Twain is known as one of America’s greatest writers and lecturers, writing some of the most influential pieces in American history. Born in 1835 and living until 1910, Twain experienced drastic changes in his country and their impact on society. An opinionated man, he took to writing to share his observations.
I’ve always loved reading Mark Twain’s work for the way he wraps such powerful messages in humorous and entertaining plots. The wisdom he shares in his novels and short stories are timeless, and I still find myself referring back to many of his quotes in both my professional and personal life.
Here are four of my favourite life lessons Mark Twain has gifted us with:
1. “Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and a body ain’t got no business doing wrong when he ain’t ignorant and knows better.”
This is one of the most practical pieces of advice to carry with you in your day to day life.
Everyone has carried a heavy conscience at some point in their lives. This is your moral compass telling you what’s right and wrong, and acting against it can leave you in a debilitating state.
Twain’s quote is a great reminder that no matter what happens, you have to live with your actions and conscience.
Twain loved to write about the human conscience and the role it plays in our decision-making. Here are some more of his quotes regarding conscience and doing the right thing: http://www.twainquotes.com/Conscience.html
2. “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.”
I like this quote a lot when thinking about ambitious goals. Sometimes thinking practically about your dreams can prevent you from chasing them. You begin to focus on the obstacles and sacrifices, and you lose hope in the process.
In some cases, ignorance of these obstacles and confidence that you will one day reach your goal is the best recipe for success. This is how some of the greatest athletic feats were accomplished; the greatest books were written; and the most influential companies were built.
3. “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
This is a simple one, but maybe the most important.
When meeting new people, especially in a setting where you may feel uncomfortable at an ego level — like a business event or joining a new team — you might feel the need to stretch the truth to fit in.
The problem with doing this is that you have to remember every detail of every lie you tell. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up falling into a habit that is sure to blow up in your face.
In all relationships in your life — whether business or personal — it’s best to keep all lies off the table. It will make your life simpler, and more importantly make you a more authentic person.
4. “That is just the way with some people. They get down on a thing when they don’t know nothing about it.”
This piece of advice is a nice little reminder to be more open-minded, which is something I’ve struggled with in the past. Growing up I was very stubborn and stuck in my ways. I was unreceptive to new perspectives and ideas, and it was hard to convince me to change my stance.
With maturity, you realize that you’re certainly not right about everything and you miss out on great opportunities when you don’t try new things or explore new ideas.
Mark Twain hits the nail on the head with this one. Some people default to being skeptical and dismissive by habit. But by being conscious of it, you’ve taken the first step to break the habit.
Next time you catch yourself doing this, ask yourself if you’ve ever tried or explored the thing you’re skeptical of. If the answer is no, be careful with how much you value your own opinion on this topic.
Which Mark Twain quote resonated with you the most? If you have any others that you appreciate, please leave a response!
