--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The average man does not get pleasure out…" description: "\"The average man does not get pleasure out of an idea because he thinks it is true; he thinks it is true because he gets pleasure out of it.\" — H. L. Me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/h-l-mencken-245_average_the-average-man-does-not-get-pleasure-ou_466111.png" --- # The average man does not get pleasure out of an idea… ![“The average man does not get pleasure out of an idea because he thinks it is true; he thinks it is true because he gets pleasure out of it.” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/h-l-mencken-245_average_the-average-man-does-not-get-pleasure-ou_466111.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/h-l-mencken-245_average_the-average-man-does-not-get-pleasure-ou_466111.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/h-l-mencken-245_average_the-average-man-does-not-get-pleasure-ou_466111.png) > “The average man does not get pleasure out of an idea because he thinks it is true; he thinks it is true because he gets pleasure out of it.” [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People enjoy ideas more when they believe them true, and they enjoy the belief because the idea feels satisfying, creating a circular reinforcement. **In simple terms:** Ideas feel good when believed true, and belief feels good because of the idea. Key Takeaway Question your assumptions about why you like something. Themes belief pleasure psychology Mood skeptical introspective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - political ideology - marketing slogans - personal convictions - media narratives Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑justification Questions to Reflect On - What ideas do you favor without evidence? - How does belief shape enjoyment? A Different Perspective Pleasure can stem from bias, not objective truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Average man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average-man/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [If people do not know what is going to make them better off or give them pleasure, then the idea that you can trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/if-people-do-not-know-what-is-going-to-make-them-better-off-or-give/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Being true to you, means being true to yourself even when everyone else thinks you should be doing what they want you to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederica-ehimen/being-true-to-you-means-being-true-to-yourself-even-when-everyone/) [Frederica Ehimen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederica-ehimen/) > [The artist isn't particularly keen on getting a thing done, as you call it. 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