...the coat of arms of the human race ought to consist of a man with an ax
on his shoulder proceeding toward a grindstone, or it ought to represent the
several members of the human race holding out the hat to one another; for we
are all beggars, each in is own way. One beggar is too proud to beg for pennies,
but will beg for an introduction into society; another does not care for society,
but he wants a postmastership; another will inviegle a lawyer into conversation
and then sponge on him for free advice. The man who wouldn't do any of these
things will beg for the Presidency. Each admires his own dignity and greatly
guards it, but in his opinion the others haven't any. Mendicancy is a matter
of taste and temperament, no doubt.
- Mark Twain, a Biography
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