H. L. Mencken

The chief value of money lies in the fact that one lives in a world in which it is overestimated.

The chief value of money lies in the fact that one lives in a world in which it is overestimated.

We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the same sense and to the extent that we respect read more

We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the same sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.

The only good bureaucrat is one with a pistol at his head. Put it in his hand and it's good-by read more

The only good bureaucrat is one with a pistol at his head. Put it in his hand and it's good-by to the Bill of Rights.

The true function of art is to...edit nature and so make it coherent and lovely. The artist is a sort read more

The true function of art is to...edit nature and so make it coherent and lovely. The artist is a sort of impassioned proofreader, blue-penciling the bad spelling of God.

The idea that the sole aim of punishment is to prevent crime is obviously grounded upon the theory that crime read more

The idea that the sole aim of punishment is to prevent crime is obviously grounded upon the theory that crime can be prevented, which is almost as dubious as the notion that poverty can be prevented.