Mark Twain's Response Concerning the Death of His Daughter Suzy

It is one of the mysteries of our nature that a man, all unprepared, can receive a thunder-stroke like that and live. There is but one reasonable explanation of it. The intellect is stunned by the shock and but gropingly gathers the meaning of the words. The power to realize their full import is mercifully lacking.

- Mark Twain's Autobiography (on daughter Suzy Clemen's death)