“Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.”
- November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910
- American
- Author, humorist, and lecturer
- Wrote masterpieces such as “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” and had a major influence on American literature
Quote
“Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.”
Explanation
Mark Twain’s quote humorously critiques the concept of social etiquette and the false modesty often associated with good breeding or politeness. He suggests that the key to good manners is not necessarily about genuine respect for others, but about concealing our true thoughts—particularly how we overvalue ourselves and undervalue others. The humor lies in the irony that what society often considers refined behavior is, in Twain’s view, a form of pretense, where the social niceties are used to hide our true feelings of superiority and disregard for others.
Twain’s remark exposes the hypocrisy in the social conventions of politeness, where people are expected to behave in a way that hides their true emotions and attitudes, sometimes for the sake of maintaining appearances or fitting in with social expectations. This form of good breeding, then, becomes more about performing the proper gestures than being truly genuine or respectful.
In modern contexts, this quote resonates with discussions around social masks, self-image, and authenticity in relationships and society. Twain’s words encourage us to reflect on the ways in which we often mask our true thoughts or play roles to meet social expectations, rather than engaging with others in a truly honest and respectful manner. His humor challenges us to rethink the value of outward politeness when it often hides our genuine feelings.
