Narr/Cousin Eddie had a Mencken quote in the comment section under the CRT post that I thought good enough that I wanted to remember it for use later. The best way to do that is to make it a post of its own. Thus I went looking for what I hope is the exact wording, though even quotation sites are not 100% reliable on that (as I have learned from the many false CS Lewis quotes that have circulated on the internet).
Any man who inflicts the human race with ideas must be prepared to see them misunderstood.
I admit I was a touch disappointed, because in Cousin Eddie's version it seemed the inflicter of ideas who is being taken to task, while the actual quote seems to favor that person over the mass of men who will misunderstand it. The difference is not huge because I think both versions are dissatisfied with both parties, but I think it is present. However, Mencken comes to the rescue in another place. While searching for the first quote I happened upon another one I thought appropriate to our age as well.
The urge to save humanity is almost always
only a false-face for the urge to rule it.
4 comments:
I appreciate the acknowledgement and correction. I knew I was paraphrasing, and both go in the same direction. The other is good too--of course Mencken was so prolific that you can find apposite quotes for almost anything if you look. He also contradicted himself from time to time, but who doesn't?
Cousin Eddie
I figure Mencken subscribed to Whitman's idea:
“Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)”
Gold star for Donna B. I had Walt in mind.
Cousin Eddie
Got the long-awaited book (Horse Wheel etc) today. Looks good!
Cousin Eddie
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