“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
-Mark Twain
Today at 2:45 PM, I will hear that end-of-the-year click for the 25th time. It’s a sound that for some odd reason resonates with me as I close the book on yet another year of teaching. For a quarter-of-a-century now—with all but two years in the same place—that click of my classroom door continues to deliver an emotion that’s too complicated to describe. I fail to find the perfect words, unlike a beloved American author, who always seemed to hit the nail on the head when it came to just about anything.
The number of hilariously heartfelt quotes attributed to Mark Twain might best be described as understated exaggeration—if that’s even possible. He delivered his two cents in a way that appealed to the masses. The man who gave us Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn was profound and funny at the same time. Born Samuel Clemens, the Missouri native used humor, self-deprecation, satire, and exaggeration masterfully. Here are a few of my favorites:
“The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
“A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”
“Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.”
“Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been.”
“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”
“It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt”
“The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.”
“A half-truth is the most cowardly of lies.”
“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
“The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up.”
“Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.”
“Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”
“Comparison is the death of joy.”
“A man’s character may be learned from the adjectives he habitually uses in conversation.”
“Great people are those who make others feel that they, too, can become great.”
“Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.”
“Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
To be honest, I could have listed so many more of Clemens’ insightful quotes—there seemed to be no end to the man’s profundity. But it’s the last one I will focus on as I make that final walk to my car this afternoon. Hearing that door click shut every year is a quiet exclamation point. The faces and names will change once again in 80 days, and there is certainly a sadness to that, particularly when it comes to the seniors, many of whom I’ll probably never cross paths with again. But God willing, the journey will begin again for the 26th time this August after a summer of recharging the batteries.
Right now though I’m looking forward to that click, which among other emotions certainly elicits a healthy measure of joy for having been blessed with yet another year doing a job that—as the famous writer states—I “enjoy doing.” Although unlike the second part of that quote, after 180 days with students ages 14-18, it is certainly work! But make no mistake, the wrinkles that come from smiling far outnumber those from stress, and that’s all one can ask for according to the clever Samuel Clemens.
-Tommy O’Sionnach
Happy Summer, Tom! You are a blessing to your students. Thanks for sharing your wisdom every week!
Thanks Tina! Hope all is good with you guys!