H. L. Mencken Quotes

United States, Satirist
September 12, 1880 – January, 29, 1956.

Henry Louis Mencken (September 12, 1880 – January 29, 1956) was an American journalist, satirist, cultural critic and scholar of American English. Known as the "Sage of Baltimore", he is regarded as one of the most influential American writers and prose stylists of the first half of the 20th century. He commented widely on the social scene, literature, music, prominent politicians and contemporary movements. His satirical reporting on the Scopes trial, which he dubbed the "Monkey Trial", also gained him attention.

Also known as Literary Critic, Essayist, Social Critic, Journalist

He slept more than any other president, whether by day or by night. Nero fiddled, but Coolidge only snored.

H. L. Mencken
- Night
The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all.

H. L. Mencken
- Time
- Freedom
- Fighting

The fact is that the average man's love of liberty is nine-tenths imaginary, exactly like his love of sense, justice and truth.

H. L. Mencken
- Men
- Truth
- Justice
The more I think you over, the more it comes home to me what an unmitigated Middle Victorian ass you are!

H. L. Mencken
- Home
Firmness in decision is often merely a form of stupidity. It indicates an inability to think the same thing out twice.

H. L. Mencken
- Decision
A woman wishes to mother a man simply because she sees into his helplessness, his need of an amiable environment, his touching self-delusion.

H. L. Mencken
- Men
- She
- Mother
Liberty and democracy are eternal enemies, and every one knows it who has ever given any sober reflection to the matter.

H. L. Mencken
- Democracy
- Reflection
The true aim of medicine is not to make men virtuous; it is to safeguard and rescue them from the consequences of their vices. The physician does not preach repentance; he offers absolution.

H. L. Mencken
- Men
- True

Why do men delight in work? Fundamentally, I suppose, because there is a sense of relief and pleasure in getting something done - a kind of satisfaction not unlike that which a hen enjoys on laying an egg.

H. L. Mencken
- Work
- Men
- Done
The genuine music lover may accept the carnal husk of opera to get at the kernel of actual music within, but that is no sign that he approves the carnal husk or enjoys gnawing through it.

H. L. Mencken
- Music
- May
The fact that I have no remedy for all the sorrows of the world is no reason for my accepting yours. It simply supports the strong probability that yours is a fake.

H. L. Mencken
- World
- Strong
- Fake
The war on privilege will never end. Its next grat campaign will be against the special privileges of the underprivileged.

H. L. Mencken
- War
The learned are seldom pretty fellows, and in many cases their appearance tends to discourage a love of study in the young.

H. L. Mencken
- Pretty
- Study