It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office.

Quote by H L Mencken

Topics: H L Mencken Quotes

What men value in this world is not rights but privileges.

What men value in this world is not rights but privileges.

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.

A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar.

A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar.

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...

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 cynics are right nine times out of ten.

The cynics are right nine times out of ten.

War will never cease until babies begin to come into the world with larger cerebrums...

War will never cease until babies begin to come into the world with larger cerebrums...

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 -...

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...

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...

When women kiss it always reminds one of prize-fighters shaking hands.

When women kiss it always reminds one of prize-fighters shaking hands.

Most people want security in this world, not liberty.

Most people want security in this world, not liberty.

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.

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

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

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...

Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what sting is justice.

Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what sting is justice.

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.

Don't overestimate the decency of the human race.

Don't overestimate the decency of the human race.

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.

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...