Progress: The process whereby the human race has got rid of whiskers, the vermiform appendix and God. H. L. Mencken More Quotes by H. L. Mencken More Quotes From H. L. Mencken There is something even more valuable to civilization than wisdom, and that is character. H. L. Mencken charactercivilizationreligion Self-respect - The secure feeling that no one, as yet, is suspicious. H. L. Mencken respectpersonalityself A wealthy man is one who earns $100 a year more than his wife's sister's husband. H. L. Mencken husbandmenyears Don't overestimate the decency of the human race. H. L. Mencken dignityraceliterature There are no dull subjects. There are only dull writers. H. L. Mencken subjectswritingdull On one issue, at least, men and women agree. They both distrust women. H. L. Mencken hilariouswomenfunny The worst government is often the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very tolerant and humane. But when fanatics are on top there is no limit to oppression. H. L. Mencken usagovernmentliterature An idealist is one who, on noticing that roses smell better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup. H. L. Mencken vegetablesfoodlife The only good bureaucrat is one with a pistol at his head. Put it in his hand and it's good-bye to the Bill of Rights. H. L. Mencken gunrightshands Writing books is certainly a most unpleasant occupation. It is lonesome, unsanitary, and maddening. Many authors go crazy. H. L. Mencken crazysuccessbook The essence of science is that it is always willing to abandon a given idea for a better one; the essence of theology is that it holds its truths to be eternal and immutable. H. L. Mencken essenceideasreligion The objection to a Communist always resolves itself into the fact that he is not a gentleman. H. L. Mencken gentlemancommunismfacts Man is a natural polygamist: he always has one woman leading him by the nose, and another hanging on to his coattails. H. L. Mencken hanging-onnosesmen Genius: the ability to prolong one's childhood. H. L. Mencken abilitychildhoodgenius [The] erroneous assumption is to the effect that the aim of public education is to fill the young of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence, and so make them fit to discharge the duties of citizenship in an enlightened and independent manner. Nothing could be further from the truth. The aim of public education is not to spread enlightenment at all; it is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardised citizenry, to put down dissent and originality. H. L. Mencken independentscienceknowledge We are here and it is now. Further than that, all human knowledge is moonshine. H. L. Mencken drinkinginspirationalknowledge The scientist who yields anything to theology, however slight, is yielding to ignorance and false pretenses, and as certainly as if he granted that a horse-hair put into a bottle of water will turn into a snake. H. L. Mencken horseignorancereligious There is no record in the history of a nation that ever gained anything valuable by being unable to defend itself. H. L. Mencken valuablerecordsmilitary Our whole practical government is grounded in mob psychology and the Boobus Americanus will follow any command that promises to make him safer. H. L. Mencken psychologygovernmentamerica The chief value of money lies in the fact that one lives in a world in which it is overestimated. H. L. Mencken inspiringappreciationfunny
