For Immediate Release
Office of Mrs. Bush
November 29, 2001
Remarks by Mrs. Bush at Mark Twain Symposium
Hello, and welcome to the White House. I'm delighted to see
students and teachers here this morning -- Welcome! We've got a
wonderful group of panelists, scholars and Twain enthusiasts gathered
here today -- to celebrate and study one of America's most important
storytellers, Mark Twain.
Tomorrow is Samuel Clemens' birthday. Clemens -- who is, of course,
the man behind Mark Twain -- was born 166 years ago, on November 30,
1835. His words and his wit are as fitting now as they were when they
were written.
Mark Twain is one of the most often quoted (and misquoted!) men of
his time, and long after his time we find ourselves marveling at the
depth and scope of his talent. Literary fame does not come without a
certain degree of effort -- perhaps that's an understatement.
The writer put an enormous amount of effort into his work. It was
Clemens who noted that "The difference between the right word and the
almost-right word is the difference between the lightning and the
lightning bug."
Few, if any, American writers could turn a phrase better than Mark
Twain. And millions of Americans have enjoyed the results, including
the President. His favorite quote is, "Do the right thing. It will
gratify a few and amaze the rest."
Through Twain's volumes of keen literature, he made his trade look
easy. In fact, the author himself said, "Writing is easy. All you have
to do is cross out the wrong words."
What a joy it must have been to spend time talking with this
marvelous, complex, and witty man. Perhaps we will approach that joy
today as we contemplate the author and the legend -- Samuel Clemens and Mark Twain.
And now I'm delighted to introduce a great patron of the Clemens'
home and a friend of ours, Governor John Rowland of Connecticut.
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