H.L. Mencken

Country United States
Born Monday, 30 November -0001
Category
Quotes 61
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Title Category
I believe that all government is evil, and that trying to improve it is largely a waste of time. Uncategorized
Giving every man a vote has no more made men wise and free than Christianity has made them good. Uncategorized
For it is mutual trust, even more than mutual interest that holds human associations together. Our friends seldom profit us but they make us feel safe... Marriage is a scheme to accomplish exactly that same end. Uncategorized
For centuries, theologians have been explaining the unknowable in terms of the-not-worth-knowing. Uncategorized
Faith may be defined briefly as an illogical belief in the occurrence of the improbable. Uncategorized
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats. Uncategorized
Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under. Uncategorized
Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard. Uncategorized
Criticism is prejudice made plausible. Uncategorized
Conscience is a mother-in-law whose visit never ends. Uncategorized
Any man who afflicts the human race with ideas must be prepared to see them misunderstood. Uncategorized
Any man who afflicts the human race with ideas must be prepare to see them misunderstood. Uncategorized
An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup. Uncategorized
All [zoos] actually offer to the public in return for the taxes spent upon them is a form of idle and witless amusement, compared to which a visit to a penitentiary, or even to a State legislature in session, is informing, stimulating and ennobling. Uncategorized
All successful newspapers are ceaselessly querulous and bellicose. They never defend anyone or anything if they can help it; if the job is forced on them, they tackle it by denouncing someone or something else. Uncategorized
All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it. Uncategorized
A poet more than thirty years old is simply an overgrown child. Uncategorized
A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers. Uncategorized
A home is not a mere transient shelter: its essence lies in the personalities of the people who live in it. Uncategorized
A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin. Uncategorized