Colin Avrech

“Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. No one in this world, so far as I know—and I have researched the records for years, and employed agents to help me—has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
― H.L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy

“Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.”
― H.L. Mencken, Prejudices First Series

“I know some who are constantly drunk on books as other men are drunk on whiskey.”
― H.L. Mencken

“A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.”
― H.L. Mencken