He was just trying to present the advice in a form that would be believed by his audience. As for his audience, he likely assumed that they were like him when h

He was just trying to present the advice in a form that would be believed by his audience. As for his audience, he likely assumed that they were like him when he was young. "When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." Twain is an interesting character. But he shouldn't always be read in a straightforward manner.