For example most, if not all, of my present income comes from work that I do which was basically self-taught by doing on my own. In fourth or fifth grade I remember in some mathematics class learning about determinants. Now, I have never used that information outside of that particular class ever since we learned it in class, and I can’t see that I ever will. It does not get in my way, so to speak, but it has been relegated to the trash bin of Useless Things. It is possible to have you mind infected with ideas and things in school that can be a hindrance, and these certainly can get in your way. An example is the notion of “Intelligent Design” and other idiotic concepts that are more in the nature of special interest propaganda than anything else, and do nothing at all to prepare you to get along in life.

He simply wanted to get a laugh while he said he’d never let a teacher try to tell him everything to do; his education was mainly won through life experience… being on the riverboats and working various jobs he had.

Remember, Twain was famous for the ironic quips! (a quip is a [sometimes] well-known but brief saying)