Mark Twain was an American author and novelist, most famous for his works The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

What many don’t know however, is that Twain was also an avid speaker, traveler, a lover of science and technology, an advocate for civil rights, and an all-around leading thinker for his time.

Known for his satire and wit, much of Twain’s commentary is poignant and can still offer us guidance today, more than 100 years after his passing.

Here are 21 Mark Twain Quotes to inspire you today.

On success

“All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence and then success is sure.” – Mark Twain

“Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.” – Mark Twain

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

On fear

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” – Mark Twain

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.” – Mark Twain

“I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.” – Mark Twain

On education

“I never let my schooling interfere with my education.” – Mark Twain

“In a good bookroom you feel in some mysterious way that you are absorbing the wisdom contained in all the books through your skin, without even opening them.” – Mark Twain

On friends

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain

“Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.” – Mark Twain

One age

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” – Mark Twain

“Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been.” – Mark Twain

On life

“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” – Mark Twain

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain

On creativity

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” – Mark Twain

“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” – Mark Twain

On anger

“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” – Mark Twain

On ambition

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain

“Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.” – Mark Twain

On Travel

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness…..Broad, wholesome, charitable views on men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

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Ben is a freelance writer, and the co-creator of Project Monkey Mind—a new blog for the 21st century solopreneur and young professional who wants to take control of their minds, smash through their limitations, and lead a life worth living.