Quote

The government is merely a servant―merely a temporary servant it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them.

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
Order
Servant
Cannot
Decide
Government
Determine
Originate
Right
Merely
Prerogative
Function
Orders
Politics
Patriot
Wrong
Obey
Political
Temporary

More quotes by Mark Twain

Image
When I want to read something nice, I sit down and write it myself.
Mark Twain
Image
To string incongruities and absurdities together in a wandering and sometimes purposeless way, and seem innocently unaware that they are absurdities, is the basis of the American art, if my position is correct.
Mark Twain
Image
There are times when one would like to hang the whole human race, and finish the farce.
Mark Twain
Image
Love is not a product of reasonings and statistics. It just comes-none knows whence-and cannot explain itself.
Mark Twain
Image
All good things arrive unto them that wait - and don't die in the meantime.
Mark Twain
Image
A dozen direct censures are easier to bear than one morganatic compliment.
Mark Twain
Image
If you need help identifying actionable analytics check out this post.
Mark Twain
Image
I like the truth sometimes, but I don't care enough for it to hanker after it.
Mark Twain
Image
What a curious kind of fool a girl is. Never been licked in school. What's a licking?
Mark Twain
Image
The more things are forbidden, the more popular they become.
Mark Twain
Image
When a library expels a book of mine and leaves an unexpurgated Bible lying around where unprotected youth and age can get hold of it, the deep unconscious irony of it delights me and doesn't anger me.
Mark Twain
Image
If you tell the truth you do not need a good memory!
Mark Twain
Image
Teaching is like trying to hold 35 corks underwater at once.
Mark Twain
Image
But it was ever thus, all through my life: whenever I have diverged from custom and principle and uttered a truth, the rule has been that the hearer hadn't strength of mind enough to believe it.
Mark Twain
Image
Progressive improvement beats delayed perfection.
Mark Twain
Image
Genius has no youth, but starts with the ripeness of age and old experience.
Mark Twain
Image
Some things you can't find out but you will never know you can't by guessing and supposing: no, you have to be patient and go on experimenting until you find out that you can't find out.
Mark Twain
Image
There have been innumerable Temporary Seekers after the Truth-have you ever heard of a permanent one?
Mark Twain
Image
Never knew before what eternity was made for. It is to give some of us a chance to learn German.
Mark Twain
Image
Prophesy is a good line of business, but it is full of risks.
Mark Twain