Quote

In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.

Mark Twain

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Mark Twain
Age: 74 †
Born: 1835
Born: November 30
Died: 1910
Died: April 21
Aphorist
Author
Autobiographer
Humorist
Journalist
Novelist
Opinion Journalist
Prosaist
Science Fiction Writer
Teacher
Florida
Missouri
Samuel Langhorne Clemens
Samuel L. Clemens
Samuel Clemens
Politics
Greatness
Patriot
Scorned
Peace
Succeed
Bravery
Timidity
Political
Beginning
Patriotism
Timid
Change
Cost
Costs
Succeeds
Nothing
Courage
Join
Scarce
Men
Cause
Libertarian
Veteran
Liberty
Hated
Remembrance
Causes
Brave
Nationalism
Armistice

More quotes by Mark Twain

Image
I am losing enough sleep to supply a worn-out army.
Mark Twain
Image
God, so atrocious in the Old Testament, so attractive in the New--the Jekyl and Hyde of sacred romance.
Mark Twain
Image
By common consent of all the nations and all the ages the most valuable thing in this world is the homage of men, whether deserved or undeserved.
Mark Twain
Image
There is no salvation for us but to adopt Civilization and lift ourselves down to its level.
Mark Twain
Image
An author values a compliment even when it comes from a source of doubtful competency.
Mark Twain
Image
The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is you really want to say.
Mark Twain
Image
My father was an amazing man. The older I got, the smarter he got.
Mark Twain
Image
Human beings are the only creatures who blush - or who need to.
Mark Twain
Image
By and by when each nation has 20,000 battleships and 5,000,000 soldiers we shall all be safe and the wisdom of statesmanship will stand confirmed.
Mark Twain
Image
The reason why truth is so much stranger than fiction is that there is no requirement for it to be consistent.
Mark Twain
Image
The lie, as a virtue, a principle, is eternal the lie, as a recreation, a solace, a refuge in time of need, the fourth Grace, the tenth Muse, man's best and surest friend is immortal
Mark Twain
Image
It is a good thing to write for the amusement of the public, but it is a far higher and nobler thing to write for their instruction, their profit, their actual and tangible benefit.
Mark Twain
Image
History has tried hard to teach us that we can't have good government under politicians. Now, to go and stick one at the very head of the government couldn't be wise.
Mark Twain
Image
I am living a new and exalted life of late. It steeps me in a sacred rapture to see a portrait develop and take soul under my hand. First, I throw off a study - just a mere study, a few apparently random lines - and to look at it you would hardly ever suspect who it was going to be even I cannot tell, myself.
Mark Twain
Image
What is there that confers the noblest delight? What is that which swells a man's breast with pride above that which any other experience can bring to him? Discovery!
Mark Twain
Image
The common eye sees only the outside of things, and judges by that, but the seeing eye pierces through and reads the heart and the soul, finding there capacities which the outside didn't indicate or promise, and which the other kind of eye couldn't detect.
Mark Twain
Image
for business reasons, I must preserve the outward signs of sanity.
Mark Twain
Image
If horses knew their strength we should not ride anymore.
Mark Twain
Image
He charged nothing for his preaching and it was worth it too.
Mark Twain
Image
The altar cloth of one aeon is the doormat of the next.
Mark Twain