Auctions Quote by H. L. Mencken
“The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office. Their principal device to that end is to search out groups who pant and pine for something they can't get and to promise to give it to them. Nine times out of ten that promise is worth nothing. The tenth time is made good by looting A to satisfy B. In other words, government is a broker in pillage, and every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The American Language" by H. L. Mencken, 1919
Government officials are ordinary people who seek power, exploiting public desires for personal gain, turning elections into transactions of stolen resources.
In simple terms: Politicians are ordinary people who use promises to gain power and loot.
Key Takeaway
Beware promises and demand accountability.
Themes
politics
power
corruption
public trust
elections
Mood
cynical
critical
skeptical
Type
political
satirical
analytical
When to use this quote
- voting
- activism
- policy advocacy
- community organizing
- media literacy
Key Concepts
elite theory
rent seeking
political economy
social manipulation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate genuine public service from self‑interest?
- What mechanisms can reduce rent‑seeking in politics?
A Different Perspective
Power structures can also produce genuine public service, not only exploitation.
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