08/03/2025
Sunday Reflections: Mark Twain and His Ci**rs
Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was rarely seen without a cigar. By his own admission, he smoked constantly—reportedly up to 20 a day in his younger years—and found in them a peculiar kind of solace. The hum of a riverboat, the quiet of his writing desk, the restless nights on lecture tours—always, there was a cigar burning nearby.
Twain once quipped, “If I cannot smoke in heaven, then I shall not go.” It was classic Twain—half jest, half confession. Beneath the humor was a deeper longing: for rest, for solace, for something that made life’s chaos a little more bearable. He lived through war, personal tragedy, and financial ruin, yet still found comfort in the simple ritual of lighting a cigar.
There’s a kind of parable there. We reach for small joys—sometimes holy, sometimes humble—that tether us to peace in uncertain times. For Twain, sometimes it was a cigar. For some, it’s prayer, song, or the quiet rhythm of shared company.
This Sunday, pause for your own reflection. Breathe deep. Savor what is good. As Twain might remind us, “Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.” Perhaps grace—like a good cigar—isn’t earned, but given.
Find your quiet moment. Find your cigar
— Sunday Reflections at 2nd Street Cigar Co.
