Controversial Quote by H. L. Mencken
![“[A formula for answering controversial letters -- without even reading the letters:] Dear Sir (or Madame): You may be right.” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f18/h-l-mencken-245_controversial_a-formula-for-answering-controversial-le_2795484.jpg)
“[A formula for answering controversial letters -- without even reading the letters:] Dear Sir (or Madame): You may be right.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Art of Controversy” by H. L. Mencken, 1920
A polite concession can defuse conflict without fully engaging.
In simple terms: Agree politely to avoid argument.
Key Takeaway
Use courteous acknowledgment to de‑escalate.
Themes
communication
conflict resolution
politics
Mood
tactical
diplomatic
Type
practical
strategic
When to use this quote
- debates
- customer service
- negotiations
Key Concepts
strategic concession
rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a polite concession appropriate?
- How can you maintain authenticity?
A Different Perspective
May be seen as insincere or weak.
![“By profession a biologist, [Thomas Henry Huxley] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences. Absolutely nothing was uninteresting to him. His curiosity ranged from music to theology and from philosophy to history. He didn't simply know something…” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f46/h-l-mencken-245_absolutely-nothing_by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-h_5368.jpg)
![“I curated this show [Shanghai Biennale ], I was by no means trying to shock people or be controversial.” quote by Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/886/ai-weiwei-824_controversial_i-curated-this-show-shanghai-biennale-i_66816.jpg)