Ignorance, Confidence, and Filthy Rich Friends

“Early Hard Knocks”

Born in 1835, Samuel Langhorne Clemens quickly learned to value financial security as he distanced himself from his father’s numerous business failures. Clemens’ father invested all his money in land, but never profited from it. He tried running a store, but failed. He died when Clemens was a small child, leaving his family destitute. As he became older, Clemens held numerous jobs to help his family and to better himself. As an adult, he did not want to experience the grinding poverty he had known as a child.

After many business adventures, Clemens – writing as Mark Twain – became a stunning literary success at midlife. He earned great wealth and used it to develop numerous inventions, make investments and form a publishing firm. Unfortunately, at least for literary posterity, his business and entrepreneurial activities limited the time he had to write. Besides being a brilliant author, he also was a striving capitalist, trying to increase his wealth by any means available.

“How to Quit a Good Job”

In his early 20s, Clemens decided to go to Brazil in hopes of becoming a rich coca trader. To this end, he journeyed to New Orleans, ...