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.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker complains that a court ruling allows a publisher to sell property belonging to the speaker, turning the judge's own home into a commodity for profit.
- In plain terms
- A judge’s decision lets a publisher sell the speaker’s property, making the judge’s house for for sale.
- What can you take from it?
- Legal rulings can create unexpected profit opportunities.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does this reveal about the power of courts over private property?
- How might one responsibly capitalize on such rulings?
Another view
The satire may exaggerate the situation for comic effect, limiting its factual reliability.
More from Samuel Langhorne Clemens
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 If voting made any difference they wouldn't let us do it.
Permalink to quote #144 Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.
Permalink to quote #141
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