H. L. Mencken Quotes

American journalist and writer (1880–1956)

Henry Louis Mencken (12 September 1880 – 29 January 1956), known as H. L. Mencken, was a twentieth-century journalist, satirist, social critic, cynic, and freethinker, known as the "Sage of Baltimore" and the "American Nietzsche". He is often regarded as one of the most influential American writers of the early 20th century.

From: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Alternative Names: Henry Louis Mencken

From Wikidata (CC0)

The theory seems to be that so long as a man is a failure he is one of God's chillun, but that as soon as he has any luck he owes it to the Devil.

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

The New Deal began, like the Salvation Army, by promising to save humanity. It ended, again like the Salvation Army, by running flop-houses and disturbing the peace.

Christian — One who is willing to serve three Gods, but draws the line at one wife.

Historian — An unsuccessful novelist.

We are here and it is now: further than that, all human knowledge is moonshine.

Truth — Something somehow discreditable to someone.

Self-respect — The secure feeling that no one, as yet, is suspicious.

Remorse — Regret that one waited so long to do it.

Platitude — An idea (a) that is admitted to be true by everyone, and (b) that is not true.

A celebrity is one who is known to many persons he is glad he doesn't know.

An idealist is one who, on noticing that roses smell better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.

Immorality is the morality of those who are having a better time. You will never convince the average farmer's mare that the late Maud S. was not dreadfully immoral.

The most costly of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true. It is the chief occupation of mankind.

Nature abhors a moron.

H. L. Mencken Quotes

Advanced Search Filters

Works in ChatGPT, Claude, or Any AI