H. L. Mencken ( 10 of 103 )
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.
Morality is the theory that every h uman act must be either right or wrong, and that 99 % of read more
Morality is the theory that every h uman act must be either right or wrong, and that 99 % of them are wrong.
All human progress, even in morals, has been the work of men who have doubted the current moral values, not read more
All human progress, even in morals, has been the work of men who have doubted the current moral values, not of men who have whooped them up and tried to enforce them.
Under democracy, one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to read more
Under democracy, one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule -and both commonly succeed, and are right.
Government, in its very essence, is opposed to all increase in knowledge. Its tendency is always towards permanence and against read more
Government, in its very essence, is opposed to all increase in knowledge. Its tendency is always towards permanence and against change...[T]he progress of humanity, far from being the result of government, has been made entirely without its aid and in the face if its constant and bitter opposition.
The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to believe.
The truth that survives is simply the lie that is pleasantest to believe.
Democracy is only a dream: it should be put in the same category as Arcadia, Santa Claus, and Heaven.
Democracy is only a dream: it should be put in the same category as Arcadia, Santa Claus, and Heaven.
Bachelors know more about women than married men; if they didn't, they'd be married too.
Bachelors know more about women than married men; if they didn't, they'd be married too.
Demagogue: one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots.
Demagogue: one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots.
In war the heroes always outnumber the soldiers ten to one.
In war the heroes always outnumber the soldiers ten to one.
