Damn! a Book of Calumny

“Congress consists of one-third, more or less, scoundrels; two-thirds, more or less, idiots; and three-thirds, more or less, poltroons.””

— H. L. Mencken

“I do not pretend, of course, that I have never done it; mere politeness forces one to it; there are women who sulk and grow bellicose unless one at least makes the motions of kissing them. But what I mean is that I have never found the act a tenth part as agreeable as poets, the authors of musical comedy librettos, and (on the contrary side) chaperones and the gendarmerie make it out. The physical sensation, far from being pleasant, is intensely uncomfortable”

— H. L. Mencken

“THE ROOT OF RELIGION The idea of literal truth crept into religion relatively late: it is the invention of lawyers, priests and cheese-mongers. The idea of mystery long preceded it, and at the heart of that idea of mystery was an idea of beauty”

— H. L. Mencken

“Whenever a first-rate intellect tackles it, as in the case of Huxley, or in that of Leo XIII., it at once takes on all the sinister fascination it had in Luther's day.””

— H. L. Mencken

“They are brothers to the fox who boasted that he had made the hounds run....””

— H. L. Mencken

“Importuna coisa é a felicidade alheia quando somos vítima de algum infortúnio””

— H. L. Mencken

“O pior governo é o mais moral. Um governo composto de cínicos é frequentemente mais tolerante e humano. Mas, quando os fanáticos tomam o poder, não há limite para a opressão””

— H. L. Mencken

“Pode ser um pecado pensar mal dos outros, mas raramente sera um engano””

— H. L. Mencken

“A democracia é a arte e ciência de administrar o circo a partir da jaula dos macacos””

— H. L. Mencken