Thursday, December 10, 2009

"Concerning the Jews" by Mark Twain


If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard; but he is heard of. Has always been heard of.

He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk.

His contribution to the world's list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine and abstruse learning are also way out of proportion to the weakness of his number.
He has made a marvellous fight in the world, in all ages and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself and be excused for it.

The Egyptian, the Babylonian and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendour, then faded to dream stuff and passed away.

The Greek and Roman followed and made a vast noise, and they are gone.

Other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burnt out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished.

The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains.

What is the secret of his immortality?
If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard; but he is heard of. Has always been heard of.

He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk.

His contribution to the world's list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine and abstruse learning are also way out of proportion to the weakness of his number.
He has made a marvellous fight in the world, in all ages and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself and be excused for it.

The Egyptian, the Babylonian and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendour, then faded to dream stuff and passed away.

The Greek and Roman followed and made a vast noise, and they are gone.

Other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burnt out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished.

The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains.

What is the secret of his immortality?

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