H. L. Mencken Quotes

There's power in the truth, just like there's power in making the right choice

If you are going to do something that you have to lie about, don't do it, it's very simple.

Integrity is never painless.

Both politicians and journalists face situations which strain their honesty and humanity. My opinion is that politicians on the average stand up somewhat better than journalists.

Maybe sometimes you are punished for honesty, but I always prefer to be honest.

There are few reasons for telling the truth, but for lying the number is infinite.

Whatever you may suffer, speak the truth. Be worthy of the entire confidence of your associates. Consider what is right as to what must be done. It is not necessary that you should keep your property, or even your life, but it is necessary that you should hold fast your integrity.

The righteous man takes his life in his hand whenever he utters the truth.

Never tell the truth to people who are not worthy of it.

An injurious truth has no merit over an injurious lie. Neither should ever be uttered. The man who speaks an injurious truth, lest his soul be not saved if he do otherwise, should reflect that that sort of a soul is not strictly worth saving.

The only virtue I want to claim is truth and nonviolence.

Do what's right and you'll please some of the people and astound the rest.

Honor was never taking the easy way when it was also the wrong one. Never telling a falsehood unless the truth was painful and unnecessary, or a lie was necessary to save others. Never manipulating the truth to serve only yourself. Protecting the weak and helpless; standing fast even when fear made you weak. Keeping your word.

It is better to suffer wrong than to do it.

Humanity is lost because people have abandoned using their conscience as their compass.

Please be truthful, but also please be benevolent, please.

That's just the way: a person does a low-down thing, and then he don't want to take no consequences of it. Thinks as long as he can hide it, it ain't no disgrace.

One of the hardest things to teach a child is that truth is more important than consequences.

Honesty is largely a matter of information, of knowing that dishonesty is a mistake. Principle is not as powerful in keeping people straight as a policeman.

I don't trust a man who talks about ethics when he is picking my pocket. But if he is acting in his own self-interest and says so, I have usually been able to work out some way to do business with him.

...Next time you're faced with a choice, do the right thing. It hurts everyone less in the long run.

Those who think it is permissible to tell white lies soon grow color-blind.

Telling a lie is called wrong. Telling the truth is called right. Except when telling the truth is called bad manners and telling a lie is called polite.

Truth is the only good and the purest pity. ... Men lie for profit or for pity. All lies turn to poison, but a lie that is told for pity or shame breeds such a host of ills that no power on earth can compass their redemption.

Conscience doth make cowards of us all.