“Man is made of dirt - I saw him made. I am not made of dirt. Man is a museum of diseases, a home of impurities; he comes to-day and is gone tomorrow; he begins as dirt and departs as stench; I am of the aristocracy of the Imperishables. And man has the Moral Sense. You understand? He has the Moral Sense. That would seem to be difference enough between us, all by itself.""I know your race. It is made up of sheep. It is governed by minorities, seldom or never by majorities. It suppresses its feelings and its beliefs and follows the handful that makes the most noise. Sometimes the noisy handful is right, sometimes wrong; but no matter, the crowd follows it.”
Explore This Quote Further
Analysis of Quote by Mark Twain
In this quote, Mark Twain contrasts the nature of humans with that of the speaker, who believes they are superior due to being "of the aristocracy of the Imperishables." The speaker highlights the transient and impure nature of humans, referring to them as a "museum of diseases" and "a home of impurities." They also emphasize the difference in moral sense between humans and themselves. Twain's observation of human behavior as being easily swayed by vocal minorities is also discernible in the quote, with the speaker characterizing humans as sheep who follow the noisy few without question. Overall, these quotes reflect Twain's critical perspective on human nature and society.
Modern Relevance:
In these quotes from Mark Twain, he highlights the differences between humans and other beings, as well as the tendency of society to be influenced by vocal minorities. Today, these ideas are still relevant as we navigate issues such as individual identity, group mentality, and the importance of moral values in our increasingly diverse world.
"Man is made of dirt - I saw him made. I am not made of dirt. Man is a museum of diseases, a home of impurities; he comes to-day and is gone tomorrow; he begins as dirt and departs as stench; I am of the aristocracy of the Imperishables. And man has the Moral Sense. You understand? He has the Moral Sense. That would seem to be difference enough between us, all by itself."
"I know your race. It is made up of sheep. It is governed by minorities, seldom or never by majorities. It suppresses its feelings and its beliefs and follows the handful that makes the most noise. Sometimes the noisy handful is right, sometimes wrong; but no matter, the crowd follows it."
Examples of Usage
- "“Man is made of dirt - I saw him made. I am not made of dirt. Man is a museum of diseases, a home of impurities; he comes to-day and is gone tomorrow; he begins as dirt and departs as stench; I am of the aristocracy of the Imperishables. And man has the Moral Sense. You understand? He has the Moral Sense. That would seem to be difference enough between us, all by itself."
- "I know your race. It is made up of sheep. It is governed by minorities, seldom or never by majorities. It suppresses its feelings and its beliefs and follows the handful that makes the most noise. Sometimes the noisy handful is right, sometimes wrong; but no matter, the crowd follows it.” - Mark Twain".
Reflection Questions:
In the above quotes by Mark Twain, he explores the differences between humans and other beings, highlighting the concept of moral sense and conformity within society. Reflecting on these quotes, consider the following questions:
How do you interpret the idea of man being made of dirt and the speaker being of the "aristocracy of the Imperishables"? How does this contrast shape your understanding of human nature?
Reflect on the concept of the Moral Sense mentioned in the first quote. Do you believe that humans possess a unique moral conscience that sets them apart from other beings? How does this influence individual behavior and societal norms?
In the second quote, Twain criticizes the tendency of humans to follow the "noisy handful" rather than listening to their own beliefs and feelings. Have you ever experienced this phenomenon in society or within your own life? How does conformity impact decision-making and individual autonomy?
Consider the idea of minorities governing majorities in society. How does this dynamic play out in various contexts, such as politics, social movements, or cultural trends? How can individuals navigate this power structure to ensure that their voices are heard and respected?
Similar quotes
“He was sunshine most always-I mean he made it seem like good weather.”
“Heaven is by favor; if it were by merit your dog would go in and you would stay out. Of all the creatures ever made (man) is the most detestable. Of the entire brood, he is the only one... that possesses malice. He is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain.”
“The idea of you lynching anybody! It's amusing. The idea of you thinking you had pluck enough to lynch a man! Because you're brave enough to tar and feather poor friendless cast-out women that come along here, did that make you think you had grit enough to lay your hands on a man? Why, a man's safe in the hands of ten thousand of your kind - as long as it's day-time and you're not behind him.”
“The guide showed us a coffee-colored piece of sculpture which he said was considered to have come from the hand of Phidias, since it was not possible that any other artist, of any epoch, could have copied nature with such faultless accuracy. The figure was that of a man without a skin; with every vein, artery, muscle, every fibre and tendon and tissue of the human frame, represented in detail. It looked natural, because somehow it looked as if it were in pain. A skinned man would be likely to look that way, unless his attention were occupied with some other matter. It was a hideous thing, and yet there was a fascination about it some where. I am sorry I saw it, because I shall always see it, now. I shall dream of it, sometimes. I shall dream that it is resting its corded arms on the bed's head and looking down on me with its dead eyes; I shall dream that it is stretched between the sheets with me and touching me with its exposed muscles and its stringy cold legs.”
“I am quite sure ... I have no race prejudice, and I think I have no color prejudices, nor caste prejudices. Indeed, I know it. I can stand any society. All I care to know is that a man is a human being—this is enough for me; he can’t be any worse.”
“I am a border-ruffian from the State of Missouri. I am a Connecticut Yankee by adoption. In me, you have Missouri morals, Connecticut culture; this, gentlemen, is the combination which makes the perfect man.”