That is just the way with some people. They get down on a thing when they don’t know nothing about it. (page 6)

Pap warn’t in a good humor—so he was his natural self. (page 26)

When I woke up I didn’t know where I was, for a minute. I set up and looked around, a little scared. Then I remembered. The river looked miles and miles across. The moon was so bright I could a counted the drift logs that went a slipping along, black and still, hundreds of yards out from shore. Everything was dead quiet, and it looked late, and smelt late. You know what I mean—I don’t know the words to put it in.

(page 34)

When it was dark I set by my camp fire smoking, and feeling pretty satisfied; but by-and-by it got sort of lonesome, and so I went and set on the bank and listened to the currents washing along, and counted the stars and drift-logs and rafts that come down, and then went to bed; there ain’t no better way to put in time when you are lonesome; you can’t stay so, you soon get over it. (page 38)

What’s the use you learning to do right, when it’s troublesome to do right and ain’t no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?

(page 85)

We said there warn’t no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft. (page 107)

It’s lovely to live on a raft. We had the sky, up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made, or only just happened—Jim he allowed they was made, but I allowed they happened; I judged it would have took too long to make so many. (pages 109-110)

“All kings is mostly rapscallions, as fur as I can make out.” (page 140)

“Hain’t we got all the fools in town on our side? and ain’t that a big enough majority in any town?” (page 162)

I reckon a body that ups and tells the truth when he is in a tight place, is taking considerable many resks. (page 170)

“It’s the little things that smoothes people’s roads the most.” (page 173)

You can’t pray a lie—I found that out. (page 194)

It don’t make no difference whether you do right or wrong, a person’s conscience ain’t got no sense, and just goes for him anyway. (page 210)