Mencken on Politics - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Scipio · 01-27-2004, 07:50 PM

I like this guy a lot. He's known as the "sage," an outspoken American newspaper man from the early 20th century (1920s and 30s). He's extremely quotable, and I thought I might post a few of these just because. If anybody else has any quotes that fit here that they like, be sure to share them.

Besides, we need a thread that's not likely to turn into a flame war.

==========================

No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public.

Freedom of press is limited to those who own one.

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

Hanging one scoundrel, it appears, does not deter the next. Well, what of it? The first one is at least disposed of.

Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what stings is justice.

Capitalism undoubtedly has certain boils and blotches upon it, but has it as many as government? Has it as many as marriage? Has it as many as religion? I doubt it. It is the only basic institution of modern man that shows any genuine health and vigor.

Jury - A group of 12 people, who, having lied to the judge about their health, hearing, and business engagements, have failed to fool him.

In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for. As for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican.

Liberals have many tails and chase them all.

Democracy is also a form of worship. It is the worship of Jackals by Jackasses.

Suppose two-thirds of the members of the national House of Representatives were dumped into the Washington garbage incinerator tomorrow, what would we lose to offset our gain of their salaries and the salaries of their parasites?

Democracy is the art of running the circus from the monkey cage.

A newspaper is a device for making the ignorant more ignorant and the crazy crazier.

It is the fundamental theory of all the more recent American law...that the average citizen is half-witted, and hence not to be trusted to either his own devices or his own thoughts.

The New Deal began, like the Salvation Army, by promising to save humanity. It ended, again like the Salvation Army, by running flop-houses and disturbing the peace.

For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.

Lawyer: One who protects us against robbery by taking away the temptation.

Judge: A law student who marks his own papers.

It is inaccurate to say I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office.

A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar.

A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground.

Demagogue: One who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots.

Time is the great legalizer, even in the field of morals.

The argument that capital punishment degrades the state is moonshine, for if that were true then it would degrade the state to send men to war... The state, in truth, is degraded in its very nature: a few butcheries cannot do it any further damage.

A professional politician is a professionally dishonorable man. In order to get anywhere near high office he has to make so many compromises and submit to so many humiliations that he becomes indistinguishable from a streetwalker.

Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule--and both commonly succeed, and are right... The United States has never developed an aristocracy really disinterested or an intelligentsia really intelligent. Its history is simply a record of vacillations between two gangs of frauds.

http://watchfuleye.com/mencken.html

archer2371 · 01-27-2004, 08:03 PM

I like Mencken a lot, his sarcastic and poignant style always amuses me, and they're always quite true, thanks for the share Scipio.

Conclamo Ludus · 01-28-2004, 03:39 PM

That's good stuff.

01-27-2004, 07:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scipio Mencken Location: College	Mencken on Politics I like this guy a lot. He's known as the "sage," an outspoken American newspaper man from the early 20th century (1920s and 30s). He's extremely quotable, and I thought I might post a few of these just because. If anybody else has any quotes that fit here that they like, be sure to share them. Besides, we need a thread that's not likely to turn into a flame war. ========================== No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public. Freedom of press is limited to those who own one. Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under. Hanging one scoundrel, it appears, does not deter the next. Well, what of it? The first one is at least disposed of. Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what stings is justice. Capitalism undoubtedly has certain boils and blotches upon it, but has it as many as government? Has it as many as marriage? Has it as many as religion? I doubt it. It is the only basic institution of modern man that shows any genuine health and vigor. Jury - A group of 12 people, who, having lied to the judge about their health, hearing, and business engagements, have failed to fool him. In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for. As for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. Liberals have many tails and chase them all. Democracy is also a form of worship. It is the worship of Jackals by Jackasses. Suppose two-thirds of the members of the national House of Representatives were dumped into the Washington garbage incinerator tomorrow, what would we lose to offset our gain of their salaries and the salaries of their parasites? Democracy is the art of running the circus from the monkey cage. A newspaper is a device for making the ignorant more ignorant and the crazy crazier. It is the fundamental theory of all the more recent American law...that the average citizen is half-witted, and hence not to be trusted to either his own devices or his own thoughts. The New Deal began, like the Salvation Army, by promising to save humanity. It ended, again like the Salvation Army, by running flop-houses and disturbing the peace. For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong. Lawyer: One who protects us against robbery by taking away the temptation. Judge: A law student who marks his own papers. It is inaccurate to say I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office. A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar. A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground. Demagogue: One who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots. Time is the great legalizer, even in the field of morals. The argument that capital punishment degrades the state is moonshine, for if that were true then it would degrade the state to send men to war... The state, in truth, is degraded in its very nature: a few butcheries cannot do it any further damage. A professional politician is a professionally dishonorable man. In order to get anywhere near high office he has to make so many compromises and submit to so many humiliations that he becomes indistinguishable from a streetwalker. Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule--and both commonly succeed, and are right... The United States has never developed an aristocracy really disinterested or an intelligentsia really intelligent. Its history is simply a record of vacillations between two gangs of frauds. http://watchfuleye.com/mencken.html __________________ "Erections lasting more than 4 hours, though rare, require immediate medical attention."

01-27-2004, 08:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
archer2371 Sarge of Blood Gulch Red Outpost Number One Location: On the front lines against our very enemy	I like Mencken a lot, his sarcastic and poignant style always amuses me, and they're always quite true, thanks for the share Scipio. __________________ "This ain't no Ice Cream Social!" "Hey Grif, Chupathingy...how bout that? I like it...got a ring to it." "I have no earthly idea what it is I just saw, or what this place is, or where in the hell O'Malley is! My only choice is to blame Grif for coming up with such a flawed plan. Stupid, stupid Grif."

01-28-2004, 03:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Conclamo Ludus Modern Man Location: West Michigan	That's good stuff. __________________ Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold. -Son House, Death Letter Blues