H. L. Mencken — People

Wilted stem and fresh apricot bloom in a low cracked vase, with drooping buds, leaves and fallen petals — Original artwork

A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.

H. L. Mencken

A round hand mirror reflects a small jester’s cap, with a brass ring beside it. — Original artwork

A man may be a fool and not know it – but not if he is married.

H. L. Mencken

Three carved theatrical masks in black, charcoal and pale grey show different degrees of frowning against slate. — Original artwork

Creator — A comedian whose audience is afraid to laugh.

H. L. Mencken

A small brass gavel lies beside a stack of blank papers on dark mahogany. — Original artwork

Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.

H. L. Mencken

A folded white paper box with a split across its top rests on purple fabric beside a brass key. — Original artwork

Explanations exist; they have existed for all times, for there is always an easy solution to every human problem – neat, plausible, and wrong.

H. L. Mencken

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

H. L. Mencken

Round spectacles with one dark lens and one clear lens resting on a white saucer beside a dark cherry. — Original artwork

It is a sin to believe evil of others, but it is seldom a mistake.

H. L. Mencken

An open red matchbox with a lit match beside a tangled ball of pink yarn on a grey surface. — Original artwork

Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop.

H. L. Mencken

Three pink stepping stones cross a shallow blue bowl of water beneath a small white paper bird. — Original artwork

Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.

H. L. Mencken

Two tin cans linked by a badly frayed string on a dark olive background. — Original artwork

No man ever quite believes in any other man.

H. L. Mencken

A small retro television with a pink screen, a toy lightning bolt on top, and a bowl of popcorn beside it. — Original artwork

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

H. L. Mencken

A small pie dish with a fan of brown paper feathers beside a round pink timer. — Original artwork

Thanksgiving Day-A day devoted by persons with inflammatory rheumatism to thanking a loving Father that it is not hydrophobia.

H. L. Mencken

A thin bent gold-colored ring lies beside a dark curled horn-shaped object on an ochre surface. — Original artwork

The theory seems to be that as long as a man is a failure he is one of God's children, but that as soon as he succeeds he is taken over by the devil.

H. L. Mencken

Two copper coins on a small brass scale pan beside a tipped paper cup of loose change. — Original artwork

Unquestionably, there is progress. The average American now pays out twice as much in taxes as he formerly got in wages.

H. L. Mencken

Painterly empty ornate picture frame beside a stack of old letters and dried flowers. — Original artwork

We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children are smart.

H. L. Mencken