--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Progress is the process whereby the human…" description: "\"Progress is the process whereby the human race is getting rid of whiskers, the veriform appendix and God\" — Henry Louis Mencken" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/henry-louis-mencken-15675_growth_progress-is-the-process-whereby-the-huma_1907526.jpg" --- # Progress is the process whereby the human race is getting… ![“Progress is the process whereby the human race is getting rid of whiskers, the veriform appendix and God” quote by Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/henry-louis-mencken-15675_growth_progress-is-the-process-whereby-the-huma_1907526.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/henry-louis-mencken-15675_growth_progress-is-the-process-whereby-the-huma_1907526.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/henry-louis-mencken-15675_growth_progress-is-the-process-whereby-the-huma_1907526.jpg) > “Progress is the process whereby the human race is getting rid of whiskers, the veriform appendix and God” [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human progress removes unnecessary physical traits and beliefs over time. **In simple terms:** We discard useless features and ideas. Key Takeaway Embrace change, question tradition. Themes evolution skepticism science Mood reflective critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - medicine - education - personal growth - public policy Key Concepts Biology philosophy cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - What traits or beliefs might we be losing? - Is all change beneficial? A Different Perspective Progress can be uneven and may discard valuable traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Human race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-race/) [Process Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process-human-2851375/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Progress Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress-process-2851374/) [Rid Whiskers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rid-whiskers-2851376/) ## Related quotes > [Progress: The process whereby the human race has got rid of whiskers, the vermiform appendix, and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/progress-the-process-whereby-the-human-race-has-got-rid-of-whiskers/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Learning is a process whereby a human being, or group, or organization, or society comes to understand and embody nature's patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-johnson/learning-is-a-process-whereby-a-human-being-or-group-or-organization/) [Tom Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-johnson/) > [“The best process in Human life is of His thought process”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rehaman-m/the-best-process-in-human-life-is-of-his-thought-process/) [Rehaman M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rehaman-m/) > [By the disposition of a stupendous wisdom, moulding together the great mysterious incorporation of the human race, the whole, at one time, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/by-the-disposition-of-a-stupendous-wisdom-moulding-together-the-great/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The brutalities of progress are called revolutions. When they are over we realize this: that the human race has been roughly handled, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-brutalities-of-progress-are-called-revolutions-when-they-are-over/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-cannot-escape-from-the-conclusion-that-the-great-ages-of-progress/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Progress is not defined by what you perceive, it does not require our comprehension, so just because you dont understand it doesnt mean that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemar-hinds/progress-is-not-defined-by-what-you-perceive-it-does-not-require-our/) [Kemar Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemar-hinds/) > [“We are all works in progress. Each day presents an opportunity to learn more, do more, be more, and grow more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/we-are-all-works-in-progress-each-day-presents-an-opportunity-to/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“Too often, the notion of progress is used as a code word for perfection, the chain of being in a different guise. The term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jones/too-often-the-notion-of-progress-is-used-as-a-code-word-for/) [Steve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jones/) > [Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/progress-should-mean-that-we-are-always-changing-the-world-to-fit-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [If you learn something that changes you, you've made progress. If you learn something that changes others, you've helped change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanie-lane/if-you-learn-something-that-changes-you-you-ve-made-progress-if-you/) [Lanie Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanie-lane/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) ## More by Henry Louis Mencken > [Good government is that which delivers the citizen from the risk of being done out of his life and property too arbitrarily and violently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/good-government-is-that-which-delivers-the-citizen-from-the-risk-of/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [The practical politician, as every connoisseur of ochlocracy knows, is not a man who seeks to inoculate the innumerable caravan of voters with new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/the-practical-politician-as-every-connoisseur-of-ochlocracy-knows-is/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [To be in love is merely to be in a perpetual state of anesthesia - to mistake an ordinary young man for a Greek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/to-be-in-love-is-merely-to-be-in-a-perpetual-state-of-anesthesia-to/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [“An enchanted life has many moments when the heart is overwhelmed with beauty and the imagination is electrified by some haunting quality in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/an-enchanted-life-has-many-moments-when-the-heart-is-overwhelmed-with/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [Morality: The theory that every human act must either be right or wrong, and that 99% of them are wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/morality-the-theory-that-every-human-act-must-either-be-right-or/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [The Liberals have many tails, and chase them all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/the-liberals-have-many-tails-and-chase-them-all/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [Intelligence has been commoner among American Presidents than high character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/intelligence-has-been-commoner-among-american-presidents-than-high/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [The surest way to get on in politics in America is to play the leading part in a prosecution which attracts public notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/the-surest-way-to-get-on-in-politics-in-america-is-to-play-the/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [Living with a dog is messy - like living with an idealist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/living-with-a-dog-is-messy-like-living-with-an-idealist/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [Democratic man, as I have remarked, is quite unable to think of himself as a free individual; he must belong to a group, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/democratic-man-as-i-have-remarked-is-quite-unable-to-think-of-himself/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [He (the businessman) is the only man who is forever apologizing for his occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/he-the-businessman-is-the-only-man-who-is-forever-apologizing-for-his/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [Human life is basically a comedy. Even its tragedies often seem comic to the spectator, and not infrequently they actually seem to have comic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/human-life-is-basically-a-comedy-even-its-tragedies-often-seem-comic/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [Perhaps the most revolting character that the United States ever produced was the Christian business man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/perhaps-the-most-revolting-character-that-the-united-states-ever/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/government-is-a-broker-in-pillage-and-every-election-is-sort-of-an/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) > [Democracy is based upon so childish a complex of fallacies that they must be protected by a rigid system of taboos, else even half-wits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/democracy-is-based-upon-so-childish-a-complex-of-fallacies-that-they/) [Henry Louis Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) [Explore all 41 Henry Louis Mencken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/) ## More Growth quotes > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Economic growth continued by means of a succession of new products which found growing and ultimately massive demand. Some of the new products were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-a-hudson/economic-growth-continued-by-means-of-a-succession-of-new-products/) [Edward A. Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-a-hudson/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [If you learn something that changes you, you've made progress. If you learn something that changes others, you've helped change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanie-lane/if-you-learn-something-that-changes-you-you-ve-made-progress-if-you/) [Lanie Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanie-lane/) > [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“There is no growth without risk. There is always something to be gained from any experience. It is up to us to interpret our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/there-is-no-growth-without-risk-there-is-always-something-to-be/) [Truth Devour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truth-devour/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to improve; that's how you develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gustafsson/you-have-to-improve-that-s-how-you-develop/) [Alexander Gustafsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gustafsson/) [Browse all 9,113 Growth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Progress is the process whereby the human race is getting rid of whiskers, the veriform appendix and God", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Louis Mencken" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/progress-is-the-process-whereby-the-human-race-is-getting-rid-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Growth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/progress-is-the-process-whereby-the-human-race-is-getting-rid-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/henry-louis-mencken-15675_growth_progress-is-the-process-whereby-the-huma_1907526.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/henry-louis-mencken-15675_growth_progress-is-the-process-whereby-the-huma_1907526.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/920/henry-louis-mencken-15675_growth_progress-is-the-process-whereby-the-huma_1907526.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Progress is the process whereby the human race is getting rid of whiskers, the veriform appendix and God” — Henry Louis Mencken", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Louis Mencken", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-mencken/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Progress is the process whereby the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/progress-is-the-process-whereby-the-human-race-is-getting-rid-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-mencken/progress-is-the-process-whereby-the-human-race-is-getting-rid-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```