A construct is being offered not as glib prose but earnestly:
Mark Twain expressed regret for possibly weakening his wife's faith.

Church, say the liberal, is for children's benefit, and we were all children.
        Twain also is for children's benefit, " " " ? ", since so many adults
        are beyond reach if not reading before they become overcome by
        the world.

        If Jesus had been quoted as extensively as Twain's writing,
        would some of it have been even more controversial?

          So, if Twain knew we were talking about his work, would he
        wish and urge that we go and do "even greater works than I" ?

        So, be not so humble, we're not that great.  :)