Actors Quote by H. L. Mencken
“Of all the classes of men, I dislike the most those who make their livings by talking - actors, clergymen, politicians, pedagogues, and so on. … It is almost impossible to imagine a talker who sticks to the facts. Carried away by the sound of his own voice and the applause from the groundlings, he makes inevitably the jump from logic to mere rhetoric.”
About This Quote
The author criticizes those who earn a living by speaking, claiming they prioritize rhetoric over facts and are driven by self‑approval.
In simple terms: Talkers prioritize rhetoric over facts, seeking applause.
Key Takeaway
Beware of speakers who value style over truth.
Themes
communication
rhetoric
truth
politics
media
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- public discourse
- journalism
- education
Key Concepts
skepticism
critical thinking
integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you discern fact from rhetoric?
- What role does audience applause play?
A Different Perspective
Not all speakers are disingenuous.
![“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)
