Puritanism. The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.

Quote by H L Mencken

Topics: H L Mencken Quotes

A national political campaign is better than the best circus ever heard of, with a...

A national political campaign is better than the best circus ever heard of, with a...

When a new source of taxation is found it never means, in practice, that the...

When a new source of taxation is found it never means, in practice, that the...

It is hard for the ape to believe he descended from man.

It is hard for the ape to believe he descended from man.

The basic fact about human existence is not that it is a tragedy, but that...

The basic fact about human existence is not that it is a tragedy, but that...

Honor is simply the morality of superior men.

Honor is simply the morality of superior men.

Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop.

Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop.

Don't overestimate the decency of the human race.

Don't overestimate the decency of the human race.

Theology is the effort to explain the unknowable in terms of the not worth knowing.

Theology is the effort to explain the unknowable in terms of the not worth knowing.

The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think...

The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think...

Conscience is a mother-in-law whose visit never ends.

Conscience is a mother-in-law whose visit never ends.

An idealist is one who, on noticing that roses smell better than a cabbage, concludes...

An idealist is one who, on noticing that roses smell better than a cabbage, concludes...

The worst government is often the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very...

The worst government is often the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very...

I go on working for the same reason that a hen goes on laying eggs.

I go on working for the same reason that a hen goes on laying eggs.

Temptation is an irresistible force at work on a movable body.

Temptation is an irresistible force at work on a movable body.

I never smoked a cigarette until I was nine.

I never smoked a cigarette until I was nine.

We are here and it is now. Further than that, all human knowledge is moonshine.

We are here and it is now. Further than that, all human knowledge is moonshine.

It doesn't take a majority to make a rebellion; it takes only a few determined...

It doesn't take a majority to make a rebellion; it takes only a few determined...

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous...

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous...

Adultery is the application of democracy to love.

Adultery is the application of democracy to love.

Life is a constant oscillation between the sharp horns of dilemmas.

Life is a constant oscillation between the sharp horns of dilemmas.