Reference no: EM131776331

H. L. Mencken

The widely-read satirist and editor of The American Mercury, H.L. Mencken (1880-1956) was perhaps America's greatest cynic. He mocked American society for its Puritanism ("the haunting fear that somebody, somewhere may be happy"), anti-intellectualism, and conformity. Read the following selection of quotes, and proceed to the exercise.

• A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.
• Freedom of press is limited to those who own one.
• For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.
• In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for. As for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican.
• Conscience is a mother-in-law whose visit never ends.
• Sunday: A day given over by Americans to wishing that they themselves were dead and in Heaven, and that their neighbors were dead and in Hell.
• Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.
• Democracy is the art of running the circus from the monkey cage.
• Liberals have many tails and chase them all.
• Capitalism undoubtedly has certain boils and blotches upon it, but has it as many as government? Has it as many as marriage? Has it as many as religion? I doubt it. It is the only basic institution of modern man that shows any genuine health and vigor.

Exercise:

1. Based on the above witticisms, list five adjectives that might be used to identify H. L. Mencken and his perspectives on American life.