Thanks Barbara, for posting my inquiry about the (in)famous quote of "Herodotus" (as claimed my Twain). It definitely sounds like a Twain original, and definitely sounds like nothing H. himself might have said. But just on the off-chance that he might have actually said it in some obscure work, I thought it was worth running past the experts here for comment. I'd be delighted to hear from anyone who has the definitive word on this. Thanks, John Woram