“ You can’t do any but mean things, and you can’t bear to see anybody praised for doing good ones. ”
Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876). copy citation
| Author | Mark Twain |
|---|---|
| Source | The Adventures of Tom Sawyer |
| Topic | praise meaning |
| Date | 1876 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/74/74-h/74-h.htm |
Context
“Somebody told—that’s enough.”
“Sid, there’s only one person in this town mean enough to do that, and that’s you. If you had been in Huck’s place you’d ’a’ sneaked down the hill and never told anybody on the robbers. You can’t do any but mean things, and you can’t bear to see anybody praised for doing good ones. There—no thanks, as the widow says”—and Tom cuffed Sid’s ears and helped him to the door with several kicks. “Now go and tell auntie if you dare—and tomorrow you’ll catch it!”
Some minutes later the widow’s guests were at the supper-table, and a dozen children were propped up at little side-tables in the same room, after the fashion of that country and that day.”
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