12 of the best Mark Twain quotes

“A successful book is not made of what is in it, but of what is left out of it.” 

“Familiarity breeds contempt — and children.”

“It is so unsatisfactory to read a noble passage and have no one you love at hand to share the happiness with you.”

“It’s a classic… something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.”

“That desire which is in us all to better other people’s condition by having them think as we think.”

“An author values a compliment even when it comes from a source of doubtful competency.”

“If everybody was satisfied with himself there would be no heroes.”

“My books are water; those of the great geniuses is wine. Everybody drinks water.”

“If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything.”

“Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”

“Do not put off until tomorrow what can be put off till day-after-tomorrow just as well.”

“When I am king, they shall not have bread and shelter only, but also teachings out of books, for a full belly is little worth where the mind is starved.”