# Quote — Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

> To promise not to do a thing is the surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing.

- Author: [Mark Twain](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain.md)
- Book: [The Adventures of Tom Sawyer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/the-adventures-of-tom-sawyer.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mark_Twain#The_Adventures_of_Tom_Sawyer_(1876)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Topics: [desire](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/desire.md)
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/the-adventures-of-tom-sawyer/to-promise-not

## More from this book

> Often, the less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/the-adventures-of-tom-sawyer/often-the-less.md)

Topics: [change](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/change.md)

> Work consists of whatever a body is OBLIGED to do, and...Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.

p. 32 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/the-adventures-of-tom-sawyer/work-consists-of-whatever.md)

Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md)

> “What’s your name?”
>
> “Becky Thatcher. What’s yours? Oh, I know. It’s Thomas Sawyer.”
>
> “That’s the name they lick me by. I’m Tom when I’m good.”

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/the-adventures-of-tom-sawyer/whats-your-name.md)