" Always Do Right." Mark Twain
I saw a piece on CBS Sunday Morning about the financial problems of the Mark Twain Home, which is in financial difficulty because they recently built a $19 million dollar visitor center which may force them to close down the Mark Twain Home. Ironically Mark Twain had to leave the home because of his financial difficulties. Since I am from the Hartford area, I decided to visit the Mark Twain Home on my next visit. I did visit the Mark Twain Home last week and, for now, it looks as though it will be staying open.
On this visit, I saw Mark Twain quotes everywhere, not only at the Mark Twain Home and Museum, but Twain's quotes are on the wall at the Blue Back Square Mall, the new mall in West Hartford next to City Hall and the statue of Noah Webster, who was also born in West Hartford. Big River, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is also playing at the Goodspeed Opera House nearby in East Haddam, Connecticut.
As I read and reread these quotes, I see how many are relevant to negotiations and mediation. Here are a few:
1." If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."
Notebook 1894
2. "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
Note to the Young People's Society 1901
3. When in doubt, tell the truth."
Following the Equator, Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar
4. Honor is a harder master than the law."
Speech 1895
5."There is nothing in the world like persuasive speech to fuddle the mental apparatus."
The Man that Corrupted Hadleyberg
Mark Twain is even more relevant today. I am going to go back and reread some of those classics. I am sure I missed some wisdom the first time around.
