Answer:
The quote from Mark Twain that has a serious tone is:
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear."
Explanation:
“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear" is a serious quote. Twain is honestly explaining what he thinks of courage and fear, of their connection. His opinion is that being brave does not necessarily mean being fearless, but moving ahead in spite of fear.
However, when we take a look at the other quotes, we realize they were written in a humorous manner. Speaking of a summer as if it were winter, playing with the meanings of mind and matter, and advising someone to distort facts are all unexpected and funny topics, none of which can be taken seriously.
This question refers to the book <em>The Great Gatsby</em>.
Nick is one of the main characters in this story, and he is also the narrator. We learn that Nick moved east from the Midwest in order to try his luck in New York. He wanted to become involved in the financial boom that was taking place during the 1920s.
Nick is initially impressed by the life of luxury and glamour that he witnesses in the city. This is particularly true in the case of his relative Daisy, and her acquaintances. However, as he becomes more involved with this society, he begins to see that people are actually quite superficial and false, and that their hedonism prevents them from forming any meaningful connection to anything and anyone. He is proven right many times in the story, such as when we learn about the superficiality of Daisy's attachment to Gatsby or the lack of concern that she shows for her daughter.