One may no more live in the world without picking up the moral prejudices of the world than one will be able to go to hell without perspiring.

Quote by H L Mencken

Topics: H L Mencken Quotes

A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both...

A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both...

Adultery is the application of democracy to love.

Adultery is the application of democracy to love.

Let's not burn the universities yet. After all, the damage they do might be worse.

Let's not burn the universities yet. After all, the damage they do might be worse.

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...

The average man does not get pleasure out of an idea because he thinks it...

The average man does not get pleasure out of an idea because he thinks it...

Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage.

Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage.

The worst government is often the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very...

The worst government is often the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very...

There is a saying in Baltimore that crabs may be prepared in fifty ways and...

There is a saying in Baltimore that crabs may be prepared in fifty ways and...

The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to believe.

The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to believe.

Historian: an unsuccessful novelist.

Historian: an unsuccessful novelist.

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...

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.

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

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

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...

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

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

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.

It is impossible to imagine the universe run by a wise, just and omnipotent God,...

It is impossible to imagine the universe run by a wise, just and omnipotent God,...

God never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it.

God never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it.

My God, no! I hate this whole hunk thing! I feel when I see myself...

My God, no! I hate this whole hunk thing! I feel when I see myself...