Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.

Quote by H L Mencken

Topics: H L Mencken Quotes

Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.

Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.

When a man laughs at his troubles he loses a great many friends. They never...

When a man laughs at his troubles he loses a great many friends. They never...

The chief contribution of Protestantism to human thought is its massive proof that God is...

The chief contribution of Protestantism to human thought is its massive proof that God is...

The only cure for contempt is counter-contempt.

The only cure for contempt is counter-contempt.

Platitude: an idea (a) that is admitted to be true by everyone, and (b) that...

Platitude: an idea (a) that is admitted to be true by everyone, and (b) that...

Man is a beautiful machine that works very badly.

Man is a beautiful machine that works very badly.

The most costly of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true....

The most costly of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true....

Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.

Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.

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...

Opera in English is, in the main, just about as sensible as baseball in Italian.

Opera in English is, in the main, just about as sensible as baseball in Italian.

Adultery is the application of democracy to love.

Adultery is the application of democracy to love.

The penalty for laughing in a courtroom is six months in jail; if it were...

The penalty for laughing in a courtroom is six months in jail; if it were...

Wealth - any income that is at least one hundred dollars more a year than...

Wealth - any income that is at least one hundred dollars more a year than...

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 impossible to imagine Goethe or Beethoven being good at billiards or golf.

It is impossible to imagine Goethe or Beethoven being good at billiards or golf.

Women have simple tastes. They get pleasure out of the conversation of children in arms...

Women have simple tastes. They get pleasure out of the conversation of children in arms...

Honor is simply the morality of superior men.

Honor is simply the morality of superior men.

Whenever a husband and wife begin to discuss their marriage they are giving evidence at...

Whenever a husband and wife begin to discuss their marriage they are giving evidence at...

All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I...

All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I...

It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of...

It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of...