Who said “We have not all had the good fortune to be ladies. We have not all been generals, or…”?

Verified

Mark Twain. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceAnswering a toast, "To the Babies," at a banquet in honor of General U.S. Grant (November 14, 1879).

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“We have not all had the good fortune to be ladies. We have not all been generals, or poets, or statesmen; but when the toast works down to the babies, we stand on common ground.”
— Mark Twain
VerifiedAnswering a toast, "To the Babies," at a banquet in honor of General U.S. Grant (November 14, 1879). · evidenceBabies

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Answering a toast, "To the Babies," at a banquet in honor of General U.S. Grant (November 14, 1879)..

APA

Twain, M. (n.d.). We have not all had the good fortune to be ladies. We have not all been generals, or poets, or statesmen; but when the toast works down to the babies, we stand on common ground. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/7630-we-have-not-all-had-the-good-fortune/

MLA

Twain, Mark. “We have not all had the good fortune to be ladies. We have not all been generals, or poets, or statesmen; but when the toast works down to the babies, we stand on common ground.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/7630-we-have-not-all-had-the-good-fortune/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Twain, Mark. “We have not all had the good fortune to be ladies. We have not all been generals, or poets, or statesmen; but when the toast works down to the babies, we stand on common ground.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/7630-we-have-not-all-had-the-good-fortune/.

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More quotes by Mark Twain

“Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.”
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