H. L. Mencken — People

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

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

Explanations exist; they have existed for all times, for there is always an easy solution to every human problem - neat, plausible, and wrong. 'The Divine Afflatus,' in the New York Evening Mail, November 15, 1917

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

Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.

H. L. Mencken

No man ever quite believes in any other man.

H. L. Mencken

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

H. L. Mencken

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

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