The silent colossal National Lie that is the support and confederate of all the tyrannies and shams and inequalities and unfairnesses that afflict the peoples - that is the one to throw bricks and sermons at.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Twain identifies a pervasive societal falsehood that enables oppression and injustice. He argues this lie deserves active resistance rather than just words.
- In plain terms
- There is a big lie supporting all injustices that should be fought against.
- What can you take from it?
- Challenge the systemic falsehoods that uphold oppression.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What lies currently support inequality in your society?
- How do you distinguish between a sham and a legitimate institution?
Another view
The quote assumes a shared understanding of what constitutes the 'National Lie'.
More from Mark Twain
[A] classic - something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.
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