Twain said it, not me.

One of my favorite pastimes is browsing through bookstores. Last week, I came across a book of essays written by the renowned American humorist, Mark Twain.

As I glanced through the book, I was struck by how many of Twain's comments could have been made last week, instead of a century or more ago. I think that is a comment both on Twain's genius and the reality of how there is nothing new under the sun regarding human behavior.

In an essay from 1871 entitled "The Revised Catechism," Twain wrote,
First class in modern Moral Philosophy stand up and recite:
What is the chief end of man?
A. To get rich.
In what way?
A. Dishonestly if we can; honestly if we must.
Who is God, the one only and true?
A. Money is God. Gold and greenbacks and stock - father, son, and the ghost of the same - three persons in one, these are the true and only God, mighty and supreme, and William Tweed is his prophet.

Does this remind you of anything or anyone that has been in the news lately? Do you think Twain was right then - writing in the midst of the political and economic scandals of the 19th century? Do you think his comments still have validity?