Worked my fingers to the bone all day and rewarded myself with a nice, long, Mississippi River-drawled Ken Burns documentary about Mark Twain, Hero of American Literature.

Driving through Hannibal last week got me thinkin’ real hard about the guy. I mean, there is so much I don’t know about him and his life, and, as a good American, should know.

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Some quotes for you to think on:

On being American: “I am not an American. I am the American.”

On Cowardice: “The human race is a race of cowards; and I am not only marching in that procession but carrying a banner.”

On Mississippi River Water: “It is good for steamboating, and good to drink; but it is worthless for all other purposes, except baptizing.”

On Simplicity: “Plain question and plain answer make the shortest road out of most perplexities.”

On Health: “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.”