Born in Missouri under the name Samuel Langhorne Clemens, his penname, Mark Twain, was river-boat slang for 12 feet of water. Clemens adopted the name Mark Twain after he established his voice as a journalist. Under Mark Twain he wrote classic fiction satire titles The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn on the nature of slavery and racism at the time. Mark Twain's style of writing was friendly and funny, deflating egos and lifting spirits of those around him. Here are some of his kindest quotes and quips of wisdom.