Mark Twain quotes
1835 – 1910 · United States, 19th–early 20th century · Humorist, novelist, essayist and social critic
About Mark Twain
Born in Florida, Missouri, Twain became a major 19th-century American writer and lecturer. A journalist, satirist and storyteller, he combined wit and realism to critique social norms and human folly across novels, essays and public talks.
Works: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Quotes
“They did not know it was impossible, so they did it.”
Source: no specific work is documented · Check the source
Disputed attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The phrase is widely circulated under Mark Twain’s name, but the available evidence cites secondary quote sites rather than any primary Twain source.
- What remains uncertain
- Attribution is disputed: no verified Twain publication or speech is provided, and the line appears in modern compilations and alternate attributions.
The line celebrates bold action: when ‘impossible’ exists mainly in people’s minds, not in facts, audacity gets results. It fits Mark Twain’s skeptical, witty voice, yet no primary Twain text in the research proves he wrote or said it.