I confess I enjoy democracy immensely. It is incomparably idiotic, and hence incomparably amusing.

—H. L. Mencken

politics democracy amusement

About H. L. Mencken

Portrait of H. L. Mencken

Henry Louis Mencken (September 12, 1880 – January 29, 1956) was an American journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic, and scholar of American English. He commented widely on literature, music, prominent politicians, and contemporary movements. His satirical reporting on the Scopes trial, which he dubbed the "Monkey Trial", also earned him...

More quotations from H. L. Mencken

It is hard to believe that a man is telling the truth when you know that you would lie if you were in his place.

—H. L. Mencken

honesty truth belief lying deceit

There is always a well-known solution to every human problem—neat, plausible, and wrong.

—H. L. Mencken

humanity society problem solving

Any man who afflicts the human race with ideas must be prepared to see them misunderstood.

—H. L. Mencken

The men the American public admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth.

—H. L. Mencken

An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.

—H. L. Mencken

More quotations tagged with “democracy”

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and
the homeless whether the mad destruction is wrought under
the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and
democracy?

—Mahatma Gandhi

democracy destruction difference liberty

Whether the mask is labeled Fascism, Democracy, or Dictatorship of the Proletariat, our great adversary remains the Apparatus—the bureaucracy, the police, the military. Not the one facing us across the frontier or the battle lines,… but the one that calls itself our protector and makes us its slaves. No matter what the circumstances, the worst betrayal will always be to subordinate ourselves to this Apparatus, and to trample underfoot, in its service, all human values in ourselves and in others.

democracy bureaucracy

I learned to believe in freedom, to glow when the word democracy was used, and to practice slavery from morning to night. I learned it the way all of my Southern people learn it: by closing door after door until one's mind and heart and conscience are blocked off from each other and from reality.

—Lillian Smith

reality freedom democracy conscience slavery

Television is the first truly democratic culture—the first culture available to everybody and entirely governed by what the people want. The most terrifying thing is what people do want.

—Clive Barnes

democracy television desire

On account of being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does.

History

11 Jan 2014 Added
14 Jul 2015 Edited (details weren’t recorded yet)