The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

Quote by H L Mencken

Topics: H L Mencken Quotes

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...

Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.

Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.

An idealist is one who, on noticing that roses smell better than a cabbage, concludes...

An idealist is one who, on noticing that roses smell better than a cabbage, concludes...

Don't overestimate the decency of the human race.

Don't overestimate the decency of the human race.

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...

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

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

No matter how long he lives, no man ever becomes as wise as the average...

No matter how long he lives, no man ever becomes as wise as the average...

Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.

Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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...

Women have simple tastes. They get pleasure out of the conversation of children in arms...

Women have simple tastes. They get pleasure out of the conversation of children in arms...

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...

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...

Man is a beautiful machine that works very badly.

Man is a beautiful machine that works very badly.

It is hard to believe that a man is telling the truth when you know...

It is hard to believe that a man is telling the truth when you know...

Buy the truth, and do not sell it

Buy the truth, and do not sell it

We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once....

We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once....