This is interesting, because it illustrates perfectly what happens
when searching for the authentic Twain quotation.

Barb Schmidt's wonderful _www.Twainquotes.com_ (http://www.Twainquotes.com)
has, of course:

"I was born modest;  not all over, but in spots."  -- from  A Connecticut
Yankee.


And then there is:

"I was born modest, but it didn't last."  This, I believe, is an  editorial
adaptation
made for the stage by Hal Holbrook.  And it works, of course.  So  well, in
fact,
over the last 55 years, that it seems to have passed into the Twain lexicon
as
gospel.


However, and this seems to me to be the original and one that works  equally
as well:

"I was born modest, but it wore off." -- from the "Layman's Sermon,"   1906.


I could be wrong, but then it's easy to do that when trying to  nail down
the
elusive "authoritative" version.  Anyone with better instincts or info  can
help
as they see necessary.  That is what is most appealing about the Twain
list.

Eventually, we get it right.  Or beat it to death trying.  And  that's
admirable.

Pardon the editorial.

Roger Durrett
Charlotte, NC