Mark Twain possessed a unique talent for observing human nature. He captured its quirks and contradictions with sharp wit. One of his most famous insights is elegantly simple: “In order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.” This single sentence perfectly explains the psychology of desire. It remains a powerful piece of wisdom today. But where did this famous quote actually come from?
The Origin: A Classic American Novel
The celebrated quote originates from Mark Twain’s masterpiece, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, published the novel in 1876. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was first published in 1876, initially in England and then in the United States. The line is not a standalone aphorism from his essays or speeches. Instead, it serves as a crucial observation within one of the book’s most iconic scenes.
Specifically, you can find the quote at the beginning of Chapter 2. It isn’t spoken by a character. Twain uses it as a narrative summary. The author explains the profound psychological principle Tom is about to exploit. This placement is key. It acts as a thesis statement for the entire chapter, framing the hilarious events that follow.
The Context: Tom’s Fence-Painting Ploy
The setting is a beautiful Saturday morning. All the other boys are free to play. Unfortunately, Aunt Polly has punished Tom. His task is to whitewash a vast plank fence. Faced with this tedious chore, Tom feels miserable. He watches his friends head off for adventures. At first, he tries to bribe another boy, Jim, to do the work, but Aunt Polly quickly stops that attempt.
Then, inspiration strikes Tom. When his friend Ben Rogers comes by, Tom pretends that whitewashing is a great privilege. He acts as if it is a highly skilled and enjoyable activity. He applies the paint with artistic focus. He makes the chore seem exclusive and desirable. He tells Ben that it’s not every day a boy gets to whitewash a fence.
A Law of Human Action
This is where Twain’s genius shines. Ben, initially mocking Tom, becomes intrigued. He soon begs for a chance to paint. Tom masterfully plays hard to get. He expresses concern that Aunt Polly would be particular about her fence. He makes the task seem important and difficult. This, of course, only makes Ben want to do it more. Tom eventually relents and lets Ben paint, even charging him an apple for the privilege.
Soon, other boys arrive. They all fall for the same trick. By the afternoon, the fence has three coats of whitewash. Tom has collected a trove of treasures from his friends. He successfully turned a dreadful punishment into a profitable venture. Twain then delivers his famous observation about making a thing difficult to attain. He calls it a “great and wise law of human action.”
Why the Quote Endures
Twain’s insight transcends its fictional setting. It explains a fundamental aspect of human psychology. We often assign greater value to things that are scarce or require effort to obtain. This principle is a cornerstone of modern marketing and economics. Limited-edition products, exclusive memberships, and high-end brands all leverage this idea. They create desire by creating scarcity.
The quote’s brilliance lies in its simplicity and universal truth. It applies to everything from childhood toys to career ambitions. Twain didn’t just write a funny story about a boy tricking his friends. He identified a core motivator of human behavior. The story of the whitewashed fence provides a perfect, memorable illustration of this powerful law. It ensures the quote, and its lesson, will never be forgotten.