No man ever quite believes in any other man. One may believe in an idea absolutely, but not in a man.

Quote by H L Mencken

Topics: H L Mencken Quotes

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

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

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

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

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 this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for;...

In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for;...

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.

A church is a place in which gentlemen who have never been to heaven brag...

A church is a place in which gentlemen who have never been to heaven brag...

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

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

Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.

Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.

Every man sees in his relatives, and especially in his cousins, a series of grotesque...

Every man sees in his relatives, and especially in his cousins, a series of grotesque...

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers.

A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers.

Immorality: the morality of those who are having a better time.

Immorality: the morality of those who are having a better time.

We must be willing to pay a price for freedom.

We must be willing to pay a price for freedom.

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...

A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.

A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.

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.

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...