Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Saying ·200 of 348
"Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference. — Mark Twain"
They never said that.
What people say
"Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference. — Mark Twain"
What was actually said
"No primary Twain source exists. Likely folk proverb." Mark Twain (spuriously) — Attribution unverified
Why it stuck
The line appears on Twain quotation sites but not in his collected works or letters. A similar sentiment appears in the book of Proverbs (26:4), but phrasing is modern.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.