Quotes from Mark Twain and Friends

Government

Jean Gabin — Wed, 05 May 2010 22:00:28 +0000

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to another.

A Great Patriot

Jean Gabin — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:57:17 +0000

He was a great patriot, a humanitarian, a loyal friend; provided, of course, he really is dead.

Murderers

Jean Gabin — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:15:30 +0000

All murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.

Opera Box

Jean Gabin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:45:15 +0000

Mark Twain wrote a nasty letter to the NY Times complaining about the price of opera boxes that the “govment lets a goddam man charge any goddam price he wants for his goddam opera box” and signed his friend William Dean Howell’s name to it.

He then sent Howell a copy of the letter and said “I sent this complaint to the NY Times with your name signed because I thought it would carry more weight.”

Envelope

Jean Gabin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:20:36 +0000

Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?

Happiness

Jean Gabin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:19:53 +0000

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.

Van Gogh’s Ear

Jean Gabin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:19:02 +0000

He has Van Gogh’s ear for music.

Billy Wilder

Statistics

Jean Gabin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:18:29 +0000

He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts… for support rather than illumination.

Andrew Lang

Democracy

Jean Gabin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:57:05 +0000

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.

A Fool

Jean Gabin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:49:58 +0000

“When you argue with a fool, remember he is doing the same.”

Proverb