[Ads-l] Quote: If there are no cigars in heaven, I shall not go (attributed to Mark Twain)

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

The remark in the subject line is often attributed to Mark Twain, but
I have not yet found a solid citation.

Recently, Kevin Mac Donnell of Mac Donnell Rare Books in Austin, Texas
shared with me an intriguing citation for a closely related remark. In
April 1929 James Ross Clemens who was Twain's cousin published "Some
Reminiscences of Mark Twain" in the "Overland Monthly" of San
Francisco, California:

[Begin excerpt]
. . . Mark was in much the same frame of mind as regards cigars. "If
there is smoking in Heaven I want to go there," he would fervidly
exclaim.
[End excerpt]

Also, Mark Twain's Notebook (1935) contains the following remark which
fits the same template:

[Begin excerpt]
If I cannot swear in heaven I shall not stay there.
[End excerpt]

Here is a link to the Quote Investigator article:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2025/01/12/smoke-heaven/

Feedback welcome
Garson O'Toole

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