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

Quote by H L Mencken

Topics: H L Mencken Quotes

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

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

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

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

Man is a beautiful machine that works very badly.

Man is a beautiful machine that works very badly.

I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie. I believe...

I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie. I believe...

Love is the delusion that one woman differs from another.

Love is the delusion that one woman differs from another.

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

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

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...

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...

In war the heroes always outnumber the soldiers ten to one.

In war the heroes always outnumber the soldiers ten to one.

A professor must have a theory as a dog must have fleas.

A professor must have a theory as a dog must have fleas.

Poetry has done enough when it charms, but prose must also convince.

Poetry has done enough when it charms, but prose must also convince.

Most people want security in this world, not liberty.

Most people want security in this world, not liberty.

Nine times out of ten, in the arts as in life, there is actually no...

Nine times out of ten, in the arts as in life, there is actually no...

The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to...

The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to...

Say what you will about the ten commandments, you must always come back to the...

Say what you will about the ten commandments, you must always come back to the...

A society made up of individuals who were all capable of original thought would probably...

A society made up of individuals who were all capable of original thought would probably...

Morality is the theory that every human act must be either right or wrong, and...

Morality is the theory that every human act must be either right or wrong, and...

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

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

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.

A Sunday school is a prison in which children do penance for the evil conscience...

A Sunday school is a prison in which children do penance for the evil conscience...