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Directory of Mark Twain's maxims, quotations, and various opinions:

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ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

Robert Louis Stevenson and I, sitting in Union Square and Washington Square a great many years ago, tried to find a name for, the submerged fame, that fame that permeates the great crowd of people you never see and never mingle with; people with whom you have no speech, but who read your books and become admirers of your work and have an affection for you. You may never find it out in the world, but there it is, and it is the faithfulness of the friendship, of the homage of those men, never criticizing, that began when they were children. They have nothing but compliments they never see the criticisms, they never hear any disparagement of you, and you will remain in the home of their hearts' affection forever and ever. And Louis Stevenson and I decided that of all fame, that was the best, the very best.
- from speech, 1/11/1908

Stevenson and Twain
A 1907 print by Francis Luis Mora records the conversation between Robert Louis Stevenson and Clemens on a bench in the square.
From the Dave Thomson collection.
The original illustration is now in the Grill Collection of the National Arts Club.

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