Lessons For Life in the Military from Mark Twain

I have emulated my career and conduct around the service of General Colin Powell and, oddly enough, around the quotes of Mark Twain. As a young reader, Mark Twain’s plain spoken English and matter of fact life advice appealed to me. I first gained an appreciation for him after reading “Tom Sawyer”, and was addicted to his home-spun charm thereafter.

His most famous sayings are easy to apply to everyday life. Everyone understands, “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.” Put simply, read books, or you’re no better than an illiterate man. So with his advice, read books, I did. I was voracious, I read everything I could get my hands on. The following are a few of my favorite Mark Twain quotes and the impact that the quotes had on my life. My personal heroes tend to embody the many attributes exemplified by Twain.

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

Mobs and the loudest voice should not always rule, even if the naysayer is the brunt of ridicule. There are countless examples of those who stood up to the angry crowd, such as St. Maurice, the patron Saint of the Infantry, who refused to bow to the mores of his time and kill innocent Christians.

“If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.”

This quote forced me to examine myself for the first time. It most immediately calls to mind the ideal of a West Point Cadet, which is, “I will not lie, cheat, nor steal or tolerate those who do.”

“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

I take heed of this quote because I like the idea of the quiet professional. I think it’s important to ensure that your voice is heard when you do decide to say something, and it’s important that that “something” is meaningful.

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

To lead a life of empathy and understanding of mankind is my highest aspiration. I’ve always tried emulating my father in this respect. I never heard him say no, and holding a grudge was beyond his capability. Moreover he was completely dedicated to the plight of others.

I think the Twain quotes taught me that living your life with a code can, in the end, be one of life’s most rewarding of challenges. It is an aspiration that you can start today. We are lucky as service personnel that we already serve a higher purpose - that of protecting our country. Our service gives us an automatic bye on developing a contribution that is beyond personal gain. That said, where some of us may use our service as a crutch, others may take the examples of leaders, visionaries, or even inspiring authors to help us live a “purpose-driven” life.