Mark Twain

1. Mark Twain “The Lowest Animal” Man is the only animal that blushes— or has occasion to.

2. Mark Twain wrote that we have only “one really effective weapon—laughter. Power, money, persuasion, supplication—these can lift a colossal humbug—push it a little—weaken it a little century by century; but only laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast.” Satire: The Weapon of Laughter

3. is the use of language to ridicule human weakness, vices, or stupidity, with the hope of bringing about social change. Satire-- • Satire uses humor to criticize all human beings or a particular person or institution. • One of the favorite techniques of the satirist is hyperbole (exaggeration)—an overstating something to make it look absurd or worse than it is. • Another favorite technique is irony—stating the opposite of what is really meant.

4. Twain History: Though his most famous novel is criticized for being racist, Mark Twain never expected nor intended the controversy that arose with the publication of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain was not racist, but depicted life in his times. “I vividly remember seeing a dozen black men and women chained to one another, once, and lying in a group on the pavement, awaiting shipment to the Southern slave market. Those were the saddest faces I have ever seen.”– Mark Twain Pictures from www.pbs.org

5. "I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All I care to know is that a man is a human being, and that is enough for me; he can't be any worse." Pictures from www.pbs.org

6. By 1900 Twain had become America’s foremost celebrity. • He was invited to attend ship launchings, anniversary gatherings, political conventions, and countless dinners. • Reporters met him at every port of call, anxious to print a new quip from the famous humorist. • To enhance his image, he took to wearing white suits and loved to stroll down the street and see people staring at him. Pictures from www.pbs.org

7. When he died on April 21, 1910, newspapers around the country declared, “The whole world is mourning.” By then, Sam Clemens had long since ceased to be a private citizen. He had become Mark Twain, a proud possession of the American nation. “I was sorry to have my name mentioned as one of the great authors, because they have a sad habit of dying off. Chaucer is dead, Spencer is dead, so is Milton, so is Shakespeare, and I’m not feeling so well myself.”—Mark Twain Pictures from www.pbs.org

8. “You can find in a text whatever you bring, if you will stand between it and the mirror of your imagination.” Picture from Dave Thomson collection: www.twainquotes.com

9. “Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.” Picture from Dave Thomson collection: www.twainquotes.com

10. “The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man's.” Picture from Dave Thomson collection: www.twainquotes.com

11. “Humor is mankind's greatest blessing.” “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.”

12. “By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity--another man's I mean.” Picture from Dave Thomson collection: www.twainquotes.com

13. “It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.”