78 quotes by H. L. Mencken

“Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage.” — H. L. Mencken

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“The theory seems to be that as long as a man is a failure he is one of God's children, but that as soon as he succeeds he is taken over by the Devil.” — H. L. Mencken

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“The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Women have simple tastes. They get pleasure out of the conversation of children in arms and men in love.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop.” — H. L. Mencken

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“I hate all sports as rabidly as a person who likes sports hates common sense.” — H. L. Mencken

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“When women kiss it always reminds one of prize fighters shaking hands.” — H. L. Mencken

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“The worst government is often the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very tolerant and humane. But when fanatics are on top there is no limit to oppression.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Faith may be defined briefly as an illogical belief in the occurrence of the improbable.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Giving every man a vote has no more made men wise and free than Christianity has made them good.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Historian: an unsuccessful novelist.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Women always excel men in that sort of wisdom which comes from experience. To be a woman is in itself a terrible experience.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Temptation is an irresistible force at work on a movable body.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Every man sees in his relatives, and especially in his cousins, a series of grotesque caricatures of himself.” — H. L. Mencken

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“It is impossible to imagine the universe run by a wise, just and omnipotent God, but it is quite easy to imagine it run by a board of gods.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Love is an emotion that is based on an opinion of women that is impossible for those who have had any experience with them.” — H. L. Mencken

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“In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Communism, like any other revealed religion, is largely made up of prophecies.” — H. L. Mencken

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“The chief contribution of Protestantism to human thought is its massive proof that God is a bore.” — H. L. Mencken

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“Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who would want to live in an institution?” — H. L. Mencken

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“Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public.” — H. L. Mencken

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“It is even harder for the average ape to believe that he has descended from man.” — H. L. Mencken

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“We must be willing to pay a price for freedom.” — H. L. Mencken

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