Average Quote by H. L. Mencken
“Politics, under a democracy, reduces itself to a mere struggle for office by flatterers of the proletariat; even when a superior man prevails at that disgusting game he must prevail at the cost of his self-respect. Not many superior men make the attempt. The average great captain of the rabble, when he is not simply a weeper over irremediable wrongs, is a hypocrite so far gone that he is unconscious of his own hypocrisy.. a slimy fellow, offensive to the nose.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The American Language,” 1912
Democracy can devolve into power struggles, and even virtuous leaders may lose self‑respect pursuing office.
In simple terms: Politics often becomes a self‑interest game, harming integrity.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize integrity over power.
Themes
politics
ethics
leadership
Mood
cynical
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- elections
- organizational leadership
- activism
- policy making
Key Concepts
power dynamics
moral compromise
public service
Questions to Reflect On
- Can a leader stay ethical in politics?
- What safeguards protect self‑respect in power?
A Different Perspective
Idealism may be unrealistic in corrupt systems.
![“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)
