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

[mr_peter_morris@outlook.com]

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Proceedings_of_the_American_Society_for/gnuVqjctdwgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22mark+twain%22+%22no+smoking%22+heaven&dq=%22mark+twain%22+%22no+smoking%22+heaven&printsec=frontcover

Proceedings of the American Society for Psychical Research
Cross-reference experiments for Mark Twain
Possibly 1922, or earlier, usual caveats apply


But if there is no smoking in the far realm I guess I'm done for
for I still think tenderly [N.R.] tenderly and longingly about my
black cigar [N. R.] cigar.


Maybe quoting an earlier work. I can't be sure from the Google fragments
if it's Twain speaking, but worth investigating.



------ Original Message ------
From "ADSGarson O'Toole" <adsgarsonotoole at GMAIL.COM<mailto:adsgarsonotoole at GMAIL.COM>>
To ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU<mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Date 12/01/2025 22:44:03
Subject Quote: If there are no cigars in heaven, I shall not go (attributed to Mark Twain)

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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