Today, I am thankful for those that bless us with their humor and wit.
Yesterday, I alluded to a funny quote that Mark Twain, arguably America’s greatest writer and humorist, articulated about the fallibility of humans. As a species, humans are wired to persevere even in the face of arduous challenges and insurmountable obstacles. We strive to achieve perfection in our daily interactions, whether at home, in the office, or in our local communities. We tackle issue after issue with vigor, diligence, and commitment. These awesome traits naturally distinguish us from all other living beings. However, in these steadfast pursuits, we tend to lead humorless lives. In short, we take ourselves so damn seriously that we fail to pause a second and laugh at our silly existences.
Hence, I’m rather grateful for someone like Mark Twain who reminds us that life is really just a comedy of errors. Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in the town of Florida, Missouri, in 1835, America’s most famous humorist never had an easy existence. In his life, he witnessed more tragedy than most of us could possibly endure. Did you know that 3 of Twain’s 6 siblings died in their childhood? Or that Twain carried with him the life-long guilt from the death of his 20-year-old brother Henry, who died in a accident (boiler explosion) on a steamboat that Mark had convinced Henry to embark? Or that Twain witnessed the death of two of his own daughters, one from meningitis and the other from epilepsy? Or that Twain found himself in bankruptcy after investing in several ill conceived investments?
All of these instances might make you think that Mark Twain would have grown to become a solemn, bitter soul. Instead, he bucked the trend and became, as the author William Faulkner once described him, “the greatest humorist this country ever produced.” He used the comical pen name, Mark Twain, as a joke, because it’s the ‘mark’ on a steamboat that indicates that you are in waters at least 2 fathoms (12 feet) deep, a safe depth for a ship’s passage. He wore white suits even after the summer season had long passed. In addition to authoring numerous comical novels and short stories, including the famous The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, he was America’s first stand-up comedian, often touring the world to share his satirical tales, humorous anecdotes, and lovable witticisms.
As we enter the sixth month of the year, I thought I’d share 6 of Mark Twain’s greatest witticisms:
“It’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.”
“Suppose you were an idiot, and now suppose you were a member of Congress. But, I repeat myself.”
“I am opposed to millionaires but it would be dangerous to offer me the position.”
“Buy land – they’re not making it anymore.”
“Those who do not read are uniformed. Those that do are misinformed.”
And, my all time favorite, which he said on this day (June 2) in 1897 to a reporter of the New York Journal after a story had circulated that he had expired: “The report of my death is greatly exaggerated.”
Mark Twain actually died 13 years later. Ironically, he was born on the day Haley’s Comet appeared in 1835, and died on the day it would reappear in 1910. He was indeed a gift from the heavens and is buried in Elmira, New York, under a monument 12 feet tall. It’s fair to say that Mark Twain would have greatly appreciated the humor in his memorial.
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