Arbitrary Quote by Mark Twain
“As I have said before, I never had any large respect for good spelling. That is my feeling yet. Before the spelling-book came with its arbitrary forms, men unconsciously revealed shades of their characters, and also added enlightening shades of expression to what they wrote by their spelling, and so it is possible that the spelling-book has been a doubtful benevolence to us.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Mysterious Stranger" (possible source), 1880s
Twain critiques standardized spelling, suggesting it masks personal character and expressive nuance.
In simple terms: Standard spelling hides personal style.
Key Takeaway
Embrace authentic expression over rigid rules.
Themes
language
individuality
expression
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
literary
commentary
When to use this quote
- writing essays
- personal letters
- creative writing
- editing
- teaching language
Key Concepts
orthography
personal identity
communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How does spelling affect your perception of a writer?
- Can you convey personality without spelling quirks?
A Different Perspective
Overly focusing on spelling can distract from content quality.
![“This morning arrives a letter from my ancient silver-mining comrade, Calvin H. Higbie, a man whom I have not seen nor had communication with for forty-four years. . . . [Footnote: Roughing It is dedicated to Higbie.] . . . I shall allow myself the privilege of copying his punctuation and his…” quote by Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9c2/mark-twain-22_ancient_this-morning-arrives-a-letter-from-my-an_1751606.jpg)
