H. L. Mencken Quotes

All government is an evil, but, of the two form's of that evil, democracy or monarchy, the sounder is monarchy; the more able to do its will, democracy.

Democracy is a very bad form of government ... but all the others are so much worse.

A democracy is ... accounted the meanest and worst of all forms of government.

It's easy being a humorist when you've got the whole government working for you.

I believe all universities should at least offer courses in politics and policy implementation.

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.

'Veep' is a great satire of democracy.

I would like to have insights into things like government, all those big ideas that you brought up that I simply don't have ideas about. I would like to be able to since so many people discuss them, but I don't want to work at them. I don't think my ambition is that strong in that direction.

They that are discontented under monarchy, call it tyranny; and they that are displeased with aristocracy, call it oligarchy: so also, they which find themselves grieved under a democracy, call it anarchy, which signifies the want of government; and yet I think no man believes, that want of government, is any new kind of government.

"Government," says Swift, "is a plain thing, and fitted to the capacity of many heads."

I think most of [people] are not very well educated themselves to understand the Winston Churchill line - democracy is the worst of all governments until you consider all the other ones.

There is a peculiar contradiction in trying to be a member of a republic while believing that the universe is a monarchy.

I do not say that democracy has been more pernicious on the whole, and in the long run, than monarchy or aristocracy. Democracy has never been and never can be so durable as aristocracy or monarchy; but while it lasts, it is more bloody than either.

In the many forms of government which have sprung up there has always been an acknowledgement of justice and proportionate equality, although mankind fail in attaining them, as indeed I have already explained. Democracy, for example, arises out of the notion that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respects; because men are equally free, they claim to be absolutely equal.

I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.

The freest form of government is only the least objectionable form. The rule of the many by the few we call tyranny: the rule of the few by the many is tyranny also; only of a less intense kind.

It is not, perhaps, unreasonable to conclude, that a pure and perfect democracy is a thing not attainable by man, constituted as he is of contending elements of vice and virtue, and ever mainly influenced by the predominant principle of self-interest. It may, indeed, be confidently asserted, that there never was that government called a republic, which was not ultimately ruled by a single will, and, therefore, (however bold may seem the paradox,) virtually and substantially a monarchy.

That fatal drollery called a representative government.

What is politics? Political system is equal to development politics plus political politics.

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

The way people in democracies think of the government as something different from themselves is a real handicap. And, of course, sometimes the government confirms their opinion.

Democracy, loudly upheld as a cure for much of the ailing world, has proved no guarantor of political wisdom, even if it remains the least bad form of government.

Now one of two things is true: Either a republic is a desirable form of government, or else it is not.

If it were not for the government, we would have nothing to laugh at in France.

The average educated man in America has about as much knowledge of what a political idea is as he has of the principles of counterpoint.