“The basic fact about human existence is not that it is a tragedy, but that it is a bore.”

— H. L. Mencken, Baltimore Evening Sun, 9 August 1926

About H. L. Mencken

1880 – 1956

American journalist and critic, known for "The American Language".

“The older I grow, the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom.”

“A man may be a fool and not know it—but not if he is married.”

“Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.”

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”