H. L. Mencken Quotes
The idea that leisure is of value in itself is only conditionally true. The average man simply spends his leisure as a dog spends it. His recreations are all puerile, and the time supposed to benefit him really only stupefies him.
Quotes to Explore
-
I didn't care what, how much adversity life threw at me. I intended to get to the top.
-
My stepfather was quite into opera, but he'd play it when he was in a bad mood, so you'd hear this boom through the floor, Wagner, and you'd feel nervous.
-
The other actresses, who are called my contemporaries, they started with a megastar. They were superstars overnight and are the same even today.
-
I expect the Republicans will enjoy a large bounce out of their convention. They're here wrapping themselves in the 9/11 flag, which I think is inappropriate in many ways, but it's their choice.
-
All writers are the same - they forget a thousand good reviews and remember one bad one.
-
It's good for kids to look up to sporting role models.
-
I'm an entrepreneur, a businessman. I've got a lot of money, and that doesn't go very well with the whole 'starving artist in a garret' routine.
-
We have to balance the lineality of the known universe with the nonlineality of the unknown universe.
-
I went from being an ailing child to a public enemy.
-
Power in politics, sovereignty in America is with we the people, and that is the path to turning this country around: empowering the people.
-
I played didgeridoo from a young age - on the vacuum cleaner, initially.
-
With each new book, the march of our national history takes a step forward. When one is present at a book launch, one is bearing witness to the birth of a new body of ideas, to the coming into being of another testimony of history.
-
We try to guide with a light touch. Sometimes we can be helpful, and my goal with my team, both on the series side and on the film side, is that the collaboration should always be invited. In other words, we're not looking to impose our view on the filmmaker; we hire a storyteller because we love the story, and we love their ability to tell it.
-
At 12, turned 13, made a movie with Sex Pistols and The Clash. Learned about a lot of things I never knew and hope will never know again. Don't know how my parents let me do that.
-
If you have decisions taken from time to time at the level of the executives, which gives the impression of being discriminatory, if you are not open when government is functioning, then obviously people will make allegations.
-
Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.
-
I'm not a god - I do bad things.
-
I never wanted to be the next Bruce Lee. I just wanted to be the first Jackie Chan.
-
Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.
-
I am a long-time hide-behind-the-sofa-in-the-early-Doctor Who-in-the-1960s fan.
-
From my time at Nokia, I've seen the 99% positive and occasionally negative impact that communication tools can have on people.
-
I was sort of a loner as a kid, so radio was where I turned for companionship. I loved the music and how the DJs talked about the artists and used words to paint pictures to evoke emotion.
-
Sculpture should walk on the tips of its toes, unostentatious, unpretentious, and light as the spoor of an animal in snow. Art should melt into and even merge with nature itself. This is obviously contrary to painting and sculpture based on nature. By so doing, art will rid itself more and more of self-centredness, virtuosity and absurdity.
-
The idea that leisure is of value in itself is only conditionally true. The average man simply spends his leisure as a dog spends it. His recreations are all puerile, and the time supposed to benefit him really only stupefies him.
