[Celtjew Libertarian]

Second time in as may days I’ve had someone quote Mark Twain in support of me. I really need to read more of him.

[socrates_shoe]

Mark Twain is wonderful when your choices are laughing at the foibles of the human race or slapping somebody senseless.

Much of his work is available free on-line, too:

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/author?name=Twain%2C%20Mark%2C%201835-1910

[Erasmus]

Because of his personal views, Twain declined to publish some of his work during his lifetime. I think his Letters From Earth are in this category.

A good place to start for the cynical side of Mark Twain.

The quotation was from a monologue, reconstructed by the actor Hal Holbrook, who based his career on his characterization of Twain on the lecture circuit.

Twain was recounting a conversation on the subject of Heaven and Hell with his pastor, Joe Twitchell. The good Reverend's conception of these places, and who whould be found in each of them, was somewhate at variance with Twain's own. According to the Reverend Joe, the Heavenly abode would be awash in the very people that Twain was hoping eternally to avoid; whereas, the other place would be peopled with those with whom Twain was most comfortable on this mortal coil.

Thus, Twain's conclusion.