Mark TwainHis Morals and Beliefs

Jessica, Yessica, Terrence, Larissa, and Nsangi

The Mysterious Stranger

A clip from The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985)

ReligionoCritical of organized religions and certain aspects of Christianity.oSuffering of family made him skeptical of “faith healing”oBelief prominent in The Mysterious Stranger

“But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?”

Civil Rights

oSupported abolition and emancipation movements.oArgued that non-whites did not receive justice in the U.S.oSupported women’s rights.oHis Votes for Women speech was considered one of the most famous in history.

“I would like to see the ballot in the hand of every woman.”

Anti-Imperialist

oOpposed the annexation of the Philippines by the U.S.oVice President of the American Anti-Imperialist League.oHighly critical of European Imperialism.oBelieved that other countries should be able to chose their own destiny.

“I am always on the side of the revolutionists, because there never was a revolution unless there were some oppressive and intolerable conditions against which to

revolt.”

Labor

oSupported the Labor Movement, especially the Knights of Labor.oWrote glowingly about unions in Life on the Mississippi.

“Who are the oppressors? The few: the King, the capitalist, and a handful of other overseers and superintendents. Who are the oppressed? The many: the nations of the earth; the valuable

personages; the workers; they that make the bread that the soft-handed and idle eat.”

Vivisection

oOpposed to animal testing.oHis objection was not on a scientific basis, but an ethical one.oOpposition due to the pain inflicted on animal.

“I am not interested to know whether vivisection produces results that are profitable to the human race or doesn't. ... The pain which it

inflicts upon unconsenting animals is the basis of my enmity toward it, and it is to me sufficient justification of the enmity without looking

further.”

“My books are water…those of great geniuses are wine. Everybody drinks

water.”

Work Cited

ohttp://online-literature.com/twain

ohttp://images.google.com

ohttp://www.twainquotes.com/

ohttp://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Mark_twain