"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—'tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning."
— Mark Twain

January 1, 1970

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Comedians from the United StatesHumorists from the United StatesNovelists from the United StatesShort story writers from the United StatesSatirists from the United States
Original Language: English
Available Translations (1)
German: "Der Unterschied zwischen dem richtigen Wort und dem beinahe richtigen ist derselbe Unterschied wie zwischen dem Blitz und dem Glühwürmchen."

Sources

Twain repeated the lightning bug/lightning comparison in several contexts, and credited Josh Billings for the idea: — Josh Billings defined the difference between humor and wit as that between the lightning bug and the lightning. — Speech at the 145th annual dinner of St. Andrew's Society, New York, 30 November 1901, Mark Twain Speaking (1976), ed. Paul Fatout, p. 424 — Billings' original wording was characteristically affected: — Don't mistake vivacity for wit, thare iz about az mutch differenc