Terrific Mark Twain quote regarding travel

Question

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts"...Mark Twain

Just ran across this and it's very profound on many levels.

International travel has certainly changed me for the better, opening my eyes to new ideas, opening my mind to understand that, while the United States is my home and a wonderful country it's not the only country and culture that is important in the world. It has brought new friends, new love, and deep respect for other peoples and cultures.

With Respect, Roy

Answer 1

Another good quote about travel:

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” --- Saint Augustine

Thank you so much! - nike907, May 5, 2011

Answer 2

Roy, I couldn't agree with you more. I know international travel is not an option for everyone. However, some of the most moving experiences of my life have been while traveling to different places in the world.

It is one thing to hear about or read about different peoples and cultures. It is quite another to walk in their shoes by taking in the sights, sharing the local cuisine, hearing the language and seeing how others live.

I think all people have a natural inclination to being self absorbed, thinking the way they live....or where they live is the perfect and only way. Sometimes it takes the idea of a different type of existence and experience apart from the streets we live on and the communities we associate in. Nothing allows us to do this better than international travel.

Thanks for sharing!

Nicole, we appreciate your very insightful and well written thoughts. Your last paragraph is dead on! (absolutely correct) - nike907, May 5, 2011

Answer 3

Yet another great quote from probably one of America's few exceptional authors & humorists... have always enjoyed his oeuvre! I concur with the idea that the USA isn't the only "great" country on the block...even though I reside here as well, it ain't utopia, folks...but I still have to lend credence to the following website just the same:

Aguas

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That's quite a list! - fontanero, May 5, 2011

Some scary places for sure! When describing life in the US to my Colombian friends they can't believe that we generally don't hear gunshots in the night, or see police with submachine guns on every corner! - nike907, May 5, 2011

Answer 4

I have found another good quote about travel:

“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are” – Samuel Johnson

This one really speaks to me I would have added an extra dimension by saying ''....instead of seeing things as we think they should be and thinking how things may be...''etc...

What do others think about this quote of Samuel Johnson?

Answer 5

Thank you so much Feliz77! We appreciate your work in finding and posting this quote.

To answer your question: "What do others think about this quote of Samuel Johnson"

I disagree. I believe in a optimisic view on life. To me, this quote of a mid 1700's Englishman is negative and pessimistic. If we don't have the ability to travel what is wrong with dreaming or thinking about a place, culture or people? We all dream, think, imagine or fantasize characters, places or scenarios everytime we read a novel, a poem or look at a painting.

I was very happy imagining and looking at pictures of the canals of Venice, the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the beaches of Aruba, the mountains of Colombia and for that matter, the Rocky Mountains, the Washington Monument and San Francisco. When I had the privelege of seeing them first hand, it brought me perspective and knowledge that my thoughts were way overshadowed by seeing the real thing, or place.

I totally agree with your thought of 'seeing things as we think they should be'. This underscores the excellent words of Nicole, posted above, and I quote her: "I think all people have a natural inclination to being self absorbed, thinking the way they live....or where they live is the perfect and only way. Sometimes it takes the idea of a different type of existence and experience apart from the streets we live on and the communities we associate in"

Thank you so much for your work and insights!