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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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
A society made up of individuals who were all capable of original thought would probably be unendurable
A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground
A man may be a fool and not know it, but not if he is married
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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