H. L. Mencken

69 quotations
It is a sin to believe evil of others, but it is seldom a mistake.
H. L. Mencken · Belief
There are two kinds of books. Those that no one reads and those that no one ought to read.
H. L. Mencken · Books - Reading
It is the dull man who is always sure, and the sure man who is always dull.
H. L. Mencken · Certainty
Temptation is a woman's weapon and man's excuse.
H. L. Mencken · Temptation
Theology is the effort to explain the unknowable in terms of the not worth knowing.
H. L. Mencken · Theology
Time stays, we go.
H. L. Mencken · Time and Time Management
Giving every man a vote has no more made men wise and free than Christianity has made them good.
H. L. Mencken · Voting
No matter how long he lives, no man ever becomes as wise as the average woman of forty-eight.
H. L. Mencken · Wisdom
Adultery is the application of democracy to love.
H. L. Mencken · Adultery
I go on working for the same reason that a hen goes on laying eggs.
H. L. Mencken · Action
Life is a constant oscillation between the sharp horns of dilemmas.
H. L. Mencken · Choice
Archbishop -- A Christian ecclesiastic of a rank superior to that attained by Christ.
H. L. Mencken · Churches
Let's not burn the universities yet. After all, the damage they do might be worse.
H. L. Mencken · Colleges and Universities
Conscience is a mother-in-law whose visit never ends.
H. L. Mencken · Conscience
Conscience is the inner voice which warns us that someone may be looking.
H. L. Mencken · Conscience
The common argument that crime is caused by poverty is a kind of slander on the poor.
H. L. Mencken · Crime and Criminals
Criticism is prejudice made plausible.
H. L. Mencken · Critics and Criticism
A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.
H. L. Mencken · Cynics and Cynicism
The cynics are right nine times out of ten.
H. L. Mencken · Cynics and Cynicism

Subjects H. L. Mencken spoke about

Abuse Action Adultery Age and Aging Agreement Alcohol and Alcoholism Alimony Bachelor Belief Books - Reading Certainty Choice Churches Colleges and Universities Conscience Crime and Criminals Critics and Criticism Cynics and Cynicism Decency Democracy