Puritanism. The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.

Quote by H L Mencken

Topics: H L Mencken Quotes

To die for an idea; it is unquestionably noble. But how much nobler it would...

To die for an idea; it is unquestionably noble. But how much nobler it would...

Honor is simply the morality of superior men.

Honor is simply the morality of superior men.

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

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

A bad man is the sort who weeps every time he speaks of a good...

A bad man is the sort who weeps every time he speaks of a good...

Men have a much better time of it than women. For one thing, they marry...

Men have a much better time of it than women. For one thing, they marry...

Don't overestimate the decency of the human race.

Don't overestimate the decency of the human race.

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.

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.

For it is mutual trust, even more than mutual interest that holds human associations together....

For it is mutual trust, even more than mutual interest that holds human associations together....

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...

Strike an average between what a woman thinks of her husband a month before she...

Strike an average between what a woman thinks of her husband a month before she...

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

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

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...

The common argument that crime is caused by poverty is a kind of slander on...

The common argument that crime is caused by poverty is a kind of slander on...

The cynics are right nine times out of ten.

The cynics are right nine times out of ten.

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...

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

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

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 best minds in government? If any were, business would hire them away.

The best minds in government? If any were, business would hire them away.

It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.

It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.