Now y’all know I don’t usually put up quotes, lots of others do better than I…
But… These Mencken quotes ‘do’ resonate…
Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.
H. L. Mencken
The common argument that crime is caused by poverty is a kind of slander on the poor.
H. L. Mencken
I believe that all government is evil, and that trying to improve it is largely a waste of time.
H. L. Mencken
It doesn’t take a majority to make a rebellion; it takes only a few determined leaders and a sound cause.
H. L. Mencken
Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
H. L. Mencken
The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
H. L. Mencken
The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out… without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.
H. L. Mencken
h/t JP
All words to consider–
There is a motive to disarming the honest Americans (and leaving all weapons in the hands of criminals and the government) – and in no universe is that motive designed to benefit the people.
Great stuff!
Thanks,
gfa
Mr. Mencken was a keen observer who saw the truth. Clearly.
Mencken & I were real close when I was in college, mainly because it so traumatized one of my Pol Sci profs. Thank you for the reminder to renew an old friendship…
That man had a wicked sense of humor.
LL- Agree!
Guffaw- Yep, truth!
Rev- That he did!
Brighid- LOL, it is worth going back and re-reading!
WSF- That he did!
One more Mencken quote that is particularly relevan today:
“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
An excellent mind
I am cross posting
Tim- Good one, and you’re correct!
Art- That is true!
Rick- Feel free!
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Many of the quotes remind me of Heinlien’s “Notebook of Lazarus Long”.
Great minds often travel the same paths.