There are so many well-known American writers, but hardly any come close to the level of notoriety that Mark Twain still possesses. As History.com reported, William Faulkner called Twain “the father of American literature,” and he was also called the “greatest humorist the United States has produced” by the New York Times in 1910 when he died. His most famous works include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn(also known as the “Great American Novel”). And as the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (aka the River Museum) reported, no one made the Mississippi River more well-known than Twain.
Twain was a staunchly American writer who used anecdotes and life experience to inspire his writing. For our quote of the day, we’re highlighting one of Twain’s short quotes based on his long life of wisdom that gives advice on what to do to stay positive when you’re feeling down.
According to Britannica, Twain’s real name was Samuel Clemens, and he was born two months early on Nov. 30, 1835, in Florida, MO, leading to a decade of poor health. His experience during this time, including his mother’s many remedy trials, went into Tom Sawyer and other works of his. He notably said that he got his sense of humor from his mother, not his serious father, who died early in Twain’s life. Per the River Museum, his schooling ended when this happened, and by 12 he was an apprentice to a printer “for board and clothing.”
Later, Twain became a steamboat pilot, which helped inspire his pen name: Britannica reported that the nautical term “mark twain” means “water that is found to be two fathoms deep” (12 feet deep) because mark means “measure” and “two.” In 1986, Twain was inducted into the National Rivers Hall of Fame for his writing and the fact that he’s “best known for his association with steamboating on the Mississippi,” the River Museum reported. “Twain made the Mississippi known to the world, and his inspired genius put the Father of Waters in the center of American lore,” they wrote.
With such an illustrious life and one filled with so many real-life adventures, different careers and many tragedies, Twain’s writing shows the depth of his ordeals and wisdom. And today’s quote shows what he thought was the best way to “cheer yourself” up, which involves selflessness.
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Quote of the Day by Mark Twain
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“The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer somebody else up.”
Mark Twain first wrote this quote in a notebook in November 1896.
The reason we know he wrote this—and why it made its way from a private notebook into the public consciousness—is that biographer Albert Bigelow Paine, who was also a friend of Twain’s, created a compilation of selected items of unpublished writings and materials as he became Twain’s “literary executor.” This collection was later titled Mark Twain’s Notebook and published in 1935.
Other publications have shared the quote, again and again, including 1948’s Mark Twain at Your Fingertips, which is another large collection of Twain’s bits of knowledge. And in 1968, Evan Esar, a “quotation collector,” published 20,000 Quips & Quotes, and modified the quote to: “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.”
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Deeper Meaning of Mark Twain’s Quote—How To Stay Positive in Life
Twain was such a prolific writer with so much life experience that it only makes sense that he wrote some good words of wisdom, even if he didn’t publish them himself.
In this quote, Twain is saying that if you want an easy and foolproof way to make yourself feel better, then trying to cheer someone else up will do the trick. It hits on the merit of being selfless and putting people first, caring about their feelings and tending to their bad days. When a friend is feeling down or is going through a tough time, comforting them can save their life and their sanity. And doing a good deed and seeing their mood improve can do wonders for your own.
So the next time that you’re feeling depressed or a little unmotivated, “cheer yourself” up by volunteering, helping someone out, talking to a friend in need or visiting your mother who might need some moral support. Mark Twain would approve of your efforts.
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More Quotes from Mark Twain
- “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
- “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.”
- “Obscurity and a competence—that is the life that is best worth living.”
- “Pity is for the living, envy is for the dead.”
- “She kept up her compliments, and I kept up my determination to deserve them or die.”
- “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
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