Here is the quote (which we all know does not match the biographical details
of Clemens' childhood):

"When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to
have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how
much the old man had learned in 7 years."

Terry Ballard
Quinnipiac University
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Date:         Wed, 12 Dec 2001 16:22:59 -0800
Reply-To:     Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
Sender:       Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
From:         Gregg Camfield <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Mark Twain Quote
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I don't believe that's an authenticated Mark Twain quotation.  It probably
came from Ayers, _The Wit and Wisdom of MT_, but he makes lots of errors in
attribution.  Check Rasmussen's fine collection of quotations for
confirmation.

Gregg Camfield