Mark Twain Quotes About Neighbors

• So much blood has been shed by the Church because of an omission from the Gospel: “Ye shall be indifferent as to what your neighbor's religion is.” Not merely tolerant of it, but indifferent to it. Divinity is claimed for many religions; but no religion is great enough or divine enough to add that new law to its code.

  Mark Twain

  Religious, Blood, Law

  "Complete Works of Mark Twain".

• Man is a Religious Animal. He is the only Religious Animal. He is the only animal that has the True Religion--several of them. He is the only animal that loves his neighbor as himself and cuts his throat if his theology isn't straight. He has made a graveyard of the globe in trying his honest best to smooth his brother's path to happiness and heaven....The higher animals have no religion. And we are told that they are going to be left out in the Hereafter. I wonder why? It seems questionable taste.

  Mark Twain

  Religious, Brother, Cutting

  "Man's Place in the Animal World" (ca. 1896)

• Monarchies, aristocracies, and religions are all based upon that large defect in your race - the individual's distrust of his neighbor, and his desire, for safety's or comfort's sake, to stand well in his neighbor's eye. These institutions will always remain, and always flourish, and always oppress you, affront you, and degrade you, because you will always be and remain slaves of minorities. There was never a country where the majority of the people were in their secret hearts loyal to any of these institutions.

  Mark Twain

  Country, Eye, Heart

  Mark Twain, General Press (2016). “The Complete Works of Mark Twain: All 13 Novels, Short Stories, Poetry and Essays”, p.1338, GENERAL PRESS

• There are 869 different forms of lying, but only one of them has been squarely forbidden. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

  Mark Twain

  Lying, Different, Bears

  Mark Twain, Caroline Thomas Harnsberger (2009). “Mark Twain at Your Fingertips: A Book of Quotations”, p.237, Courier Corporation

• If you would beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon a neighbor at the same time.

  Mark Twain

  Religious, Blessing, Neighbor

  Mark Twain (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Mark Twain (Illustrated)”, p.3180, Delphi Classics

• Each man is afraid of his neighbor's disapproval - a thing which, to the general run of the human race, is more dreaded than wolves and death.

  Mark Twain

  Death, Running, Fear

  Mark Twain (1972). “Everyone's Mark Twain”

• Good exercise for the heart: reach out and help your neighbor

  Mark Twain

  Heart, Exercise, Helping

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