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Independence .... is loyalty to one's best self and principles, and this is
often disloyalty to the general idols and fetishes.
- Notebook, 1888
The quality of independence was almost wholly left out of the human race. The
scattering exceptions to the rule only emphasize it, light it up, make it glare.
- Mark Twain's Autobiography
There are certain sweet-smelling sugar-coated lies current in the world which
all politic men have apparently tacitly conspired together to support and perpetuate.
One of these is, that there is such a thing in the world as independence: independence
of thought, independence of opinion, independence of action. Another is that
the world loves to see independence--admires it, applauds it.
- Mark Twain's Autobiography
...all men--kings & serfs alike--are slaves to other men & to circumstance--save
alone, the pilot--who comes at no man's back and call, obeys no man's orders
& scorns all men's suggestions. The king would do this thing, & would
do that: but a cramped treasury overmasters him in the one case & a seditious
people in the other. The Senator must hob-nob with canaille whom he despises,
& banker, priest & statesman trim their actions by the breeze of the
world's will & the world's opinion. It is a strange study,--a singular phenomenon,
if you please, that the only real, independent & genuine gentlemen in the
world go quietly up and down the Mississippi river, asking no homage of any
one, seeking no popularity, no notoriety, & not caring a damn whether school
keeps or not.
- Letter to Will Bowen, 8/25/1866
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