Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to the other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creatures that cannot.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Human beings possess the knowledge of morality, which highlights their intelligence, but their capacity to choose wrongdoing indicates a moral failing.
This quote by Mark Twain suggests a duality in human nature: while our ability to discern right from wrong demonstrates intellectual advancement compared to other species, our choice to act immorally reveals a deeper ethical deficiency. Essentially, the very power of choice that grants us superiority also subjects us to moral failings, contrasting our intelligence with our moral responsibilities.
Themes
MoralityKnowledgeRightWrongIntellectChoicesHuman Nature
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about ethical leadership, one might say, 'As Twain noted, our understanding of morality surpasses that of other creatures, yet we must acknowledge our lapses.'
More from Mark Twain
All quotes →The 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.
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You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns.
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To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
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Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.
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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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