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

Every man is his own hell.

Every man is his own hell.

If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries...

If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries...

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...

I confess I enjoy democracy immensely. It is incomparably idiotic, and hence incomparably amusing.

I confess I enjoy democracy immensely. It is incomparably idiotic, and hence incomparably amusing.

Judge: a law student who marks his own examination-papers.

Judge: a law student who marks his own examination-papers.

The opera is to music what a bawdy house is to a cathedral.

The opera is to music what a bawdy house is to a cathedral.

For centuries, theologians have been explaining the unknowable in terms of the-not-worth-knowing.

For centuries, theologians have been explaining the unknowable in terms of the-not-worth-knowing.

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

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

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...

To be in love is merely to be in a state of perceptual anesthesia -...

To be in love is merely to be in a state of perceptual anesthesia -...

If women believed in their husbands they would be a good deal happier and also...

If women believed in their husbands they would be a good deal happier and also...

Life is a dead-end street.

Life is a dead-end street.

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...

Conscience is the inner voice that warns us that someone might be looking.

Conscience is the inner voice that warns us that someone might be looking.

For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.

For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.

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...

No one in this world has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the...

No one in this world has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the...

Adultery is the application of democracy to love.

Adultery is the application of democracy to love.

Self-respect: the secure feeling that no one, as yet, is suspicious.

Self-respect: the secure feeling that no one, as yet, is suspicious.

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...