Henry Louis Mencken
United States
12 Sep 1880 // 29 Jan 1956
Journalist / Satirist /Social critic
12 Sep 1880 // 29 Jan 1956
Journalist / Satirist /Social critic
Quotes
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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
Every man is his own hell
Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard
Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage
Democracy is only a dream: it should be put in the same category as Arcadia, Santa Claus, and Heaven
Conscience is a mother-in-law whose visit never ends
Before a man speaks it is always safe to assume that he is a fool. After he speaks, it is seldom necessary to assume it
An idealist is one who, on noticing that roses smell better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup
All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it
All government, of course, is against liberty
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On Anger: "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
Essays
Essays
On Destiny: "Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not learned its nature: it is our future that lays down the law of our today."
Human, All Too Human
Human, All Too Human
On Friendship: "A crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love."
Essays
Essays