Mark Twain Quotes and Curiosities
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka Mark Twain, provided us with endless entertainment through numerous novels, nonfiction books, short stories, and essays—all despite having ended formal schooling after the fifth grade. Here are 10 curious facts about his life.
10 Curious Facts About Mark Twain
When Was Mark Twain Born?
Baby Clemens arrived prematurely in a two-room shack in Florida, Missouri, on November 30th, 1835. He was a frail infant and sickly child, prompting his mother to admit, “When I first saw him, I could see no promise in him.”
Mark Twain’s Many Cats
The Clemens family had 19 cats at one time during Twain’s childhood. Over the years he gave his cats inventive names such as Bambino, Famine, Pestilence, Satan, Sin, Sour Mash, and Stray Kit.
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What Is Mark Twain’s Real Name?
Sam Clemens tried out several pseudonyms, including Rambler, W. Epaminondas Adrastus Blab, and Josh, before settling on Mark Twain (meaning “the second mark”—a phrase used by Mississippi River steamboat crews to measure water depth, specifically the depth of 2 fathoms).
Mark Twain’s Typewriter
In 1874, the author spotted one of the first typewriters, a Remington, in a Boston store window. Although it could only type capital letters and he had to operate the carriage return with a foot pedal, he bought it for $125. Twain also claimed to be the first person in New England to have had a telephone for private use.
How Tall Was Mark Twain?
This literary giant stood 5 feet 8 1/2 inches tall and was so well known that he once received a letter addressed “Mark Twain, God Knows Where.”
Mark Twain in New Hampshire
In 1905, he spent the first of two summers in Dublin, New Hampshire (home of The Old Farmer’s Almanac). There, he wrote (but never finished) a book called Three Thousand Years Among the Microbes. To keep him company, he rented three kittens from a local farm. While lecturing at the Dublin Lake Club, he noticed that an audience member was knitting a pair of socks while he spoke. Infuriated, Twain declared that he had never played second fiddle to a sock and left the room. The following year, he returned to the Lake Club and spoke for over 2 hours on various topics. He received a standing ovation.
Mark Twain’s Clothing
Twain made headlines in 1907 by walking from his London hotel to a public bath across the street, attired in his blue bathrobe and slippers. Back in America, he often wore scarlet socks and all-white suits, which he called his “don’tcareadam suits.”
Mark Twain’s Leisurely Habits
Twain loved to write in bed, and reporters chatted with him there more than once. He said, “I have never taken any exercise, except for eating and resting, and I never intend to take any.”
Mark Twain’s Memory
He once observed: “When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so that I can not remember any but the things that never happened. It is sad to go to pieces like this, but we all have to do it.”
When Did Mark Twain Die?
He was born and died when a comet passed, once noting: “I came in with Halley’s Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year [1910], and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don’t.” He got his wish. He died on April 21, 1910, just two days after Halley’s Comet had reached its point closest to the Sun.
10 Quotes by Mark Twain
Which of these many humorous quotes is your favorite?
“Providence protects children and idiots. I know because I have tested it.”
“Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”
“I think that I may say that an American has not seen the United States until he has seen Mardi Gras in New Orleans.”
“Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.”
“Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.”
“It used to be a good hotel, but that proves nothing. I used to be a good boy, for that matter.”
“Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”
“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”
“Man is the only animal that blushes. Or needs to.”
“Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.”
Find out about more important people from U.S. history, such as Benjamin Franklin and Robert B. Thomas, or check out Yankee Magazine’s photo tour of the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut!
Are you a fan of Mark Twain? Let us know in the comments!
Heidi Stonehill
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I really enjoyed this article. I love Mark Twain. I would like to see more about him.
Excellent article.
I have the same birthday as Mark Twain and Dick Clark.
Love those quotes, laugh out loud funny! My husband and I are huge Mark Twain fans and loved Hal Holbruck’s one-man show portraying him. We were sure to take a family vacation to Hannibal, Missouri, where there are many sites to see, including Tom Sawyer’s cave, Mark Twain homestead, museum, etc. Of course, we got the quintessential tourist photo of our kids (now teenagers), white-washing the fence ala Tom Sawyer. Cute! Hannibal, MO is a charming town, right on the mighty Mississippi River. I highly recommend a visit. My grandfather grew up in the nearby town of Palmyra, so I’ve been to Hannibal a number of times and have fond memories. Thanks, OFA, for the Samuel Clemens article and for stirring those memories!
I lived in Redding CT where an old friend had some keepsakes of mark.i was given a lamp supposedly made from a book end from his house. I have no proof it was his. Apparently,the Russians loved his writings…I read this years ago…is it true? The book end shows a man sitting on a pike of books hunched over and reading. I appreciate mark twains humour as I approach 187 years…
I have been a Mark Twain fan since I was a young girl. When we visited relatives in Missouri, they took us to a state park that featured a house had had lived in and had a manuscript he had (started to write) written on a desk that had belonged to him. I have also loved actor Hal Holbrook's one man show about him.
One sad thing about Mark Twain's books is many of them were edited after he died. That should have been illegal.
I do, indeed, wish I had all originals, unblemished.
My favorite Mark Twain quote is: "Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the entire day." I think I got that from the OFA.
I'm currently reading Mark Twain's "memoir" of his early travels and adventures across the US, and it's great. However, having read his above quote about his remembering everything when he was young, whether it happened or not, I have to laugh. Fiction or non, or some combination thereof, "Roughing It" is a marvelous read.
One of a kind; and then some. He is listed as one of my heroes at the top of my LinkedIn page. I am somewhat of a story-teller, idealist and teacher and Mark Twain was that in spades!
Happy birthday Mark! I hope you're up there riding Halley's while cuddling a kitten or three!
