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It does look as if Massachusetts were in a fair way to embarrass me with kindnesses this year. In the first place, a Massachusetts judge has just decided in open court that a Boston publisher may sell, not only his own property in a free and unfettered way, but also may as freely sell property which does not belong to him but to me; property which he has not bought and which I have not sold. Under this ruling I am now advertising that judge's homestead for sale, and, if I make as good a sum out of it as I expect, I shall go on and sell out the rest of his property.

Mark Twain#143

SatireJusticeLawProperty

About this quote

What does it mean?
Twain sarcastically criticizes a court ruling that allows a publisher to sell his property without his consent.
In plain terms
A judge let a publisher sell Twain's property, so Twain jokes about selling the judge's home instead.
What can you take from it?
Unfair rulings invite ironic retaliation.

Where it applies

  • legal disputes
  • consumer complaints

Putting it to work

  • critique legal rulings
  • use satire for protest

Questions to consider

  • Is satire an effective legal protest?
  • How should property rights be protected?

Another view

The context of the specific legal case is not provided.

More from Mark Twain

  1. In religion and politics, people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination.

    Permalink to quote #142
  2. If voting made any difference they wouldn't let us do it.

    Permalink to quote #144
  3. Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.

    Permalink to quote #141

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