Business Quote by H. L. Mencken
![“It is [a politician's] business to get and hold his job at all costs. If he can hold it by lying, he will hold it by lying; if lying peters out, he will try to hold it by embracing new truths. His ear is ever close to the ground.” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f30/h-l-mencken-245_business_it-is-a-politician-s-business-to-get-and_410481.jpg)
“It is [a politician's] business to get and hold his job at all costs. If he can hold it by lying, he will hold it by lying; if lying peters out, he will try to hold it by embracing new truths. His ear is ever close to the ground.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The American Language", 1919
Politicians will manipulate truth to retain power, adapting tactics as needed
In simple terms: Politicians lie to stay in power, changing tactics as needed
Key Takeaway
Stay critical of political narratives
Themes
politics
ethics
truth
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
critical
educational
When to use this quote
- election campaigns
- policy debates
- news analysis
Key Concepts
power dynamics
media literacy
public trust
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify political claims?
- What safeguards protect truth in governance?
A Different Perspective
Not all politicians are uniformly dishonest
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![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
