Mark Twain Quote

"Each must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, and which course is patriotic and which isn’t. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your convictions is to be an unqualified and inexcusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let man label you as they may. If you alone of all the nation shall decide one way, and that way be the right way according to your convictions of the right, you have done your duty by yourself and by your country- hold up your head! You have nothing to be ashamed of."

by:	Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835-1910) American author and humorist
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Categories:	Conviction, Duty, Independence, Individualist, Morality, Reason, Self-Determination
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I'd love to tell this to all the pundits who are currently trying to force Mitt Romney down my throat as the only alternative to Obama, before even a single primary vote has been cast!  -- Byron, Fort Collins      2
Excellent Quote. 10 stars! This one ought to get the collectivist sheep doing backflips and frothing at the mouth. lol  -- J Carlton, Calgary      2
That's pretty humourous; your beloved SLC would called you a Conservative Sheep, Carlton. What are you doing in Canada, anyway? Really, you have no place here. Your rhetoric is the antithesis of what every true Canadian believes. You're not satisfied with screwing up your own country, you have to ruin mine?  -- L. Hanson, Edmonton, Canada
Hanson you can't speak for every Canadian...you are uniquely focused on yourself. And what I am doing here is contributing to society by producing and raising a family with my Canadian wife. If you've got a problem with that I assume it extends to all immigrants which makes you a racist. Have a nice day kamrade.  -- J Carlton, Calgary      2
-- KGBrown, Hartland
Mark Twain was a genius. It is good that Hanson knows what every Canadian believes so if anyone wants to know what every canadian believes just contact Hanson.Well, maybe every Canadian except one but that's still pretty good.  -- jim k, Austin, Tx      2
Oops, sorry that I have a lower case "C" on one Canadian.  -- jim k, Austin, Tx      1
Jim, I've lived here a long time now and I love the place. I haven't met one devout socialist yet. Not one. For the most part the Canucks I know are like anyone who gets up in the morning to be productive and improve their lives and most truly resent Government intrusion into their efforts. Hanson is in the minority as are most socialists and welfare recipients.  -- J Carlton, Calgary      1
I think, what someone else said, "it is better to live one day, as a lion, than a lifetime, as a sheep. And, as many of us have retreated, for now, out of wisdom, to live to fight another day, but, the fight comes, one way or the other. Someone said something about "messing up our own country" Sir, it is not WE THE PEOPLE" but those userpers, and others, who snuck into our gov. Soon, to be ousted. The last thing the grey haired brigaid will do for the young, before we all pass on, is restore the government..... we hope you can keep it, and remember this time.  -- Kimo, USA
Hide and watch, newt G, next pres, USA.  -- anon, USA
anon, VERY !, VERY ! !, VERY ! ! ! SCARY ! ! !, You may be right. Newt, replacing Manchurian Candidate Mr. Obamunist Goodwrench the assassin would only mean a rapid and violent end to a once free people (especially as stated in the quote above). The Fed usurper is now gone. Mumbles is now gone. Mittens (the, I'll do what ever the puppeteers tell me to do - I'll change my mind later) continues to be forced down the media listening throats as Byron stated. The only individual running for office that would support the above quote (Ron Paul) is being silenced.  -- Mike, Norwalk      1
Newt wants every gun owner in America fingerprinted...some "Republican" he is! The mans morals are for sale to the highest bidder.  -- J Carlton, Calgary
I give the quote five stars but hesitate. While I do think that the main reason most citizens of the world are oppressed is because they sit back and let it happen. But just because you have convictions about what it means to be a 'patriot', 'American', 'Canadian', 'Iranian', etc. does not mean that it is 'right'. The physical and political distances between Calgary and Edmonton are like those of San Francisco and Charleston. Might does not make right, no matter what the passion of one's convictions. But it is indeed more honorable to fight for what you believe in than to blame others for taking the reins. We are creatures that 'stand' -- something that separates us from the beasts. Taking a stand is indeed honorable, but when I take a stand, I expect to meet some resistance. To take no stand, is to be irresponsible, to simply expect support is selfish or at least unconscious -- i.e. a child.  -- E Archer, NYC
Hey, here is a great movie called 'Oh Canada Movie' -- you guys are going to love it, well, maybe not Hanson, but he ought to... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbACCGf6q-c I am happy to know that at least there are SOME Canadians that understand the real deal. ;-)  -- E Archer, NYC
Archer I'll be sure to check it out. Thanks.  -- J Carlton, Calgary
What makes anybody think that Twain really said or wrote this? To Twain, "patriotism" was at best misplaced sentimentality.  -- Ludwig, Milwaukee
Mr Clemens, one of my favorite authors, had great wit and insight to the nature of man. From his humble beginnings, to the times on the big Muddy and in the boom towns of the gold fields. Dare say men would have a hard time walking in his shoes today. The opportunity to experience reality up close makes for a rich life. Knowing that which is "right" with deep convictions based upon fact, such as the nature, origin and sound doctrines of our types of liberty and freedom, to stand strong in adversity when the odds are stacked against you, is the cause of loyal patriotism for our Constitutional Republican form of government.   -- Ronw13, Oregon

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