Civilization, in fact, grows more and more maudlin and hysterical; especially under democracy it tends to degenerate into a mere combat of crazes; the whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by and endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary.

1880-1956 (Age at death: 76 approx.)

Henry Louis "H. L." Mencken (September 12, 1880 â€“ January 29, 1956), was an American journalist, essayist, magazine editor, satirist, acerbic critic of American life and culture, and a student of American English.[1] Mencken, known as the "Sage of Baltimore", is regarded as one of the most influential American writers and prose stylists of the first half of the 20th century.

Mencken is known for writing The American Language, a multi-volume study of how the English language is spoken in the United States, and for his satirical reporting on the Scopes trial, which he named the "Monkey" trial. In addition to his literary accomplishments, Mencken was known for his controversial ideas. An opponent of World War II[citation needed] and democracy,[2] Mencken wrote a huge number of articles about current events, books, music, prominent politicians, pseudo-intellectuals, temperance and uplifters. He notably attacked ignorance, intolerance, frauds, fundamentalist Christianity, osteopathy, and chiropractic.[3] Source: Wikipedia

Country: United States

Type: Prose
Context: Book
Context Details: Mencken's quote attempts to deal with the reality that America has never been safer from existential threats. Streams of fear-inducing news stories have led Americans to adopt this belief that their government has played a role in making them safe.
Source: In Defense of Women
Uttered: 1922