H. L. Mencken Quote 

"No one ever heard of the truth being enforced by law.
Whenever the secular arm is called in to sustain an idea, whether new or old,
it is always a bad idea, and not infrequently it is downright idiotic."

by:
H. L. Mencken
(1880-1956) American Journalist, Editor, Essayist, Linguist, Lexicographer, and Critic
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Reader comments about this quote:
Ths quotation would rate five stars, if it included, at the end, "and a downright lie"
 -- Grenville Rogers, Lively, ON. Canada		 
"In times of tyranny the truth is revolututionary" Orwell.
 -- J Carlton, Calgary		 
Oops...revolutionary :)
 -- J Carlton, Calgary		 
Another history proven fact. The trick is instilling this to the hearts and minds of all those that don't know what law is, that they are sovereign, or what any of that means, especially when the 4 branches of government (media being the separate PR branch) train up and enforce the idiotic.
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
HL Mencken had little use for politicians and none whatsoever for Franklin Roosevelt. He was brilliant and well aware of the evils that governments perpetrate on their own citizens. Ours is no different.The quote, "No ones life, liberty or property is safe when the legislature is in session" is exactly right.
 -- jim k, austin,tx		 
H.L. Mencken is one of my favorite individuals to get quotes from.He had insight and wisdom.
 -- The Real Me Again		 
We are constantly bamboozled by lies and lying politicians and I know of no way to stop it even by law. There are many and maybe even one or two who sincerely believe that the holocaust never happened. I think it is a good law to prohibit that propaganda. I believe some of the dogma preached on this site is either misguided or an outright lie and I can only voice my opinion against it. It can not be outlawed. I can only hope that Mike gets surronded by more and more of his Wafflers of the world. I have accomplished at least one amazing feat: finally Mike and Logan admitted contrary to their repeated earlier denials that the USA is a democracy or majority ruled society. As Churchill said, "Never, never, never give in on any matter of honor or truth."
 -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas		 
Waffler, LOL, so that you don't labor under to many false illusions, a democracy or majority ruled society are both unlawful, illegitimate, unconstitutional and immoral forms of government. To discover law and pass codes, rules, and statutes in harmony therewith accomplishes not having to re-live the mistakes of history. The current de facto theocratic collective as exists, claims righteous dominion with no fear from the once sovereign. The truth does not need to be enforced by law. Compelled compliance, license, larceny with immunity, and victimless crimes all need unlawful despotic force, from a theocratic collective or other form of tyranny.
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
Waffler, what it is supposedly that Mike and I admitted contrary to our earlier denials that the USA is a democracy or a majority ruled society? The USA does have a semblance of a democratic process in the fact that we vote. It is not a direct democracy, because we have representatives that vote in our behalf on certain issues. What distinguishes our federalist Republic from a Democracy is the premise of our laws. Are there things that a majority simply cannot decide or make moral by a majority vote? We've gone over this before, Waffler, and you've never answered the question: what is the ratio that makes rape or murder moral or legal? Democracy says it's 2:1; OUR Republic (as differentiated by other Republics) says there is no ratio; it violates "inalienable rights" that supercedes any majority's decision. Natural laws are to be established, not man's perceived truth; the majority can decide what natural laws it wants to enforce as a civil service, but where natural laws are violated, the majority (or minority for that matter) has no voice. Waffler, if you actually became a student of history (not just of historical facts, but of societal evolutionary thought) in trying to understand the premise of natural law, it's meanings, it's philosophies, it's evolutionary transcendence throughout cultures and societies-- then you might actually grasp what Mike, Archer, and several others on this blog have been talking about. As it is, you've misapplied (or misunderstood) generally everything we've said. You can go ahead and prohibit the speaking of any propaganda if you wish, just let me know where you do it so that I can either move or purport severe public civil disobedience. Again, please tell me when I have admitted that we're a Democracy?
 -- Logan, Memphis, TN		 
Its good to see the Wafflers, Logans and Mikes of the world in spirited debate. I see what might be percieved as an animating contest being held between Patriots and Loyalists. I see it in here and I see it on the streets everyday. I'm pulling for the Patriots. And the government is off its leash. The right is wrong and the left is stupid. So for that matter is the concept of right and left...stupid.
 -- J Carlton, Calgary		 
I like the comments though - when will Waffler realize law does not follow the way of the majority, though in many cases they try desperately to have their way.
 -- RobertSRQ		 
Waffler obviously is committed (or should be). That doesn't change the truth. If the majority truly ruled, then the fact that over 50% of the citizens vote for no candidates should result in NONE of them getting to office. If this were a true democracy, then voting for no one would result in really cleaning house -- I am all for it!
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
Global Warming is getting close to being a "truth" enforced by law.
 -- warren, olathe		 
Interesting sentiment, Carlton.
 -- Anonymous		 
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