Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
All Congresses and Parliaments have a kindly feeling for idiots, and a compassion for them, on account of personal experience and heredity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote humorously reflects on the empathy politicians feel towards foolishness, suggesting it's a shared human trait.
Mark Twain's quote cleverly addresses the tendency of politicians to express sympathy for those who act foolishly, implying that every person, including those in power, has experienced moments of ignorance or has inherited traits that make them prone to folly. It serves as a commentary on human nature and the fact that folly is a commonality among all people, including leaders, thus fostering a sense of complicity and understanding towards those who lack wisdom.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a political debate, one could use this quote to highlight the absurdities faced by politicians.
More from Mark Twain
All quotes βThe easy part of being an artist is figuring out the message that everyone else is ready to hear. The hard part is waiting for the proper lull to make the announcement.
You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns.
To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.
In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.
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