A judge is a law student who marks his own examination papers.

—H. L. Mencken

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

All successful newspapers are ceaselessly querulous and bellicose. They never defend anyone or anything if they can help it; if the job is forced on them, they tackle it by denouncing someone or something else.

—H. L. Mencken

The difference between a moral man and a man of honor is that the latter regrets a discreditable act, even when it has worked and he has not been caught.

—H. L. Mencken

The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office.

—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

Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.

—H. L. Mencken

More quotations tagged with “laws”

The problem with any unwritten law is that you don't know where to go to erase it.

—Glaser and Way

What power has law where only money rules.

—Gaius Petronius

Fragile as reason is and limited as law is as the institutionalised medium of reason, that's all we have between us and the tyranny of mere will and the cruelty of unbridled, undisciplined feelings.

—Felix Frankfurter

It is found by experience that admirable laws and right precedents among the good have their origin in the misdeeds of others.

—Cornelius Tacitus

The welfare of the people is the ultimate law.
(Salus Populi Suprema Est Lex)

History

11 Jul 2015 Added