"What chiefly distinguishes the daily press is its incurable fear of ideas, its constant effort to evade the discussion of fundamentals by translating all issues into a few elemental fears, its incessant reduction of all reflection to mere emotion."
by:
H. L. Mencken
(1880-1956) American Journalist, Editor, Essayist, Linguist, Lexicographer, and Critic
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What chiefly distinguishes the daily press is its incurable fear of ideas..." What he should have said is its incurable fear of the truth.
 -- J Carlton, Calgary     
  • 3
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    a slight modification; an incurable fear of ideas associated to freedom, liberty, prosperity, individual responsibility, individual sovereignty, individual inalienable rights and anything outside the occupying statist theocracy's immediate push.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
  • 4
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    Fear and tragedy sells newspapers.
     -- jim k, Austin, Tx     
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    The media is BIG business. And what pays the bills? Billions in political ads, drug ads, financing ads, etc. -- but it is war, violence, and governments that bring in the viewers. Desert Storm, 9/11, Shock and Awe, Columbine, Sandy Hook -- these are all great for business in the media world. Our blood lust and prejudice fuels it all. I turned that crap off a long time ago.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Makes it easy on the writers ! Why work so hard to educate when they can manipulate !
     -- Ronw13, Yachats Or     
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    Yes, building 7 didn't fall until 5 minutes after the BBC said it did...
     -- Robert, Somewhere in Europe     
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    I know not of others, so I won't speak for them, but I think I have a tendency to "boil down" issues into comfortable phrases and concepts ... Mr. Mencken says I'm not alone.
     -- Bobble, No. Ferrisburgh, VT     
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    His accurate diagnosis of the "press"/media is even more alarmingly true today than when first stated.
     -- empty pockets, NO, La     
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     -- Mary, MI      

    Mencken appears to be describing the editor of Libertytree and her contributors other then myself.


     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Maybe stay on topic, rate the quotes, and make cogent and relevant comments.  Make an argument, respect others' comments, and stop spamming the blog with the same posts about socialism and you.  Perhaps stop initiating aggression towards the other users.  Stop re-posting the same comment with spelling and grammatical corrections.  I am the Editor and will edit what does not contribute to the value of this site.  Consider it a courtesy that you have not been 'edited' altogether. 


     -- Editor, Liberty Quotes     
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    Sorry Editor.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Additionally, editor you might be interested to understand it requires competency to identify the competent. 
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Editor, I know you don't need defending here — what can you say to the immature and mentally ill with a god complex?
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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