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History's Greatest Replies (T)

 Mark Twain

Mark Twain

Olivia Clemens, the wife of Mark Twain, often struggled with her husband's salty language. After years of unsuccessful nagging, she decided one day to try a different tack. Having heard Twain cuss a blue streak after he cut himself while shaving, Mrs. Clemens spent the rest of the day repeating those very same profanities, hoping the endless repetition would get her husband to see what he sounded like and, hopefully, motivate him to clean up his act. Twain patiently let her have her fun throughout the day, but when she did it once again before bedtime, he calmly observed:

"You have heard the words, my dear, but you will never master the tune."

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