"Biographies are but the clothes and buttons of the man. The biography of the man himself cannot be written"

This quote by Mark Twain suggests that bios are simply superficial accounts of a person's life. They might supply details about a person's physical appearance, their accomplishments, and their relationships, however they can not catch the essence of the person. Bios are limited in their ability to record the true nature of an individual, as they are not able to record the ideas, sensations, and inspirations of the individual. Twain suggests that the only way to really understand a person is to be familiar with them personally. Biographies can provide a glimpse into a person's life, but they can not supply a full understanding of the individual. Eventually, Twain recommends that the only way to really understand an individual is to be familiar with them personally.