The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy.
Interpretation
Increasing democratic participation helps address the shortcomings of democracy.
H. L. Mencken's quote suggests that when the failings of a democratic system become apparent, rather than moving away from democratic ideals, society should enhance and expand democratic processes. By encouraging greater citizen involvement and decision-making, the weaknesses of the system can be remedied, leading to a more effective governance that truly reflects the will of the people.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech advocating for voting rights.
I know a good many men of great learning-that is, men born with an extraordinary eagerness and capacity to acquire knowledge. One and all, they tell me that they can't recall learning anything of any value in school. All that schoolmasters managed to accomplish with them was to test and determine the amount of knowledge that they had already acquired independently-and not infrequently the determination was made clumsily and inaccurately.
It takes a long while for a naturally trustful person to reconcile himself to the idea that after all God will not help him
It is the theory of all modern civilized governments that they protect and foster the liberty of the citizen; it is the practice of all of them to limit its exercise, and sometimes very narrowly.
The central belief of every moron is that he is the victim of a mysterious conspiracy against his common rights and true deserts.
It is my conviction that no normal man ever fell in love, within the ordinary meaning of the term, after the age of thirty.
A poet more than thirty years old is simply an overgrown child.
Attempts are being made to turn Pakistan into a security state. If they succeed they should better rename it 'ISIstan.'
A government, the constitution of which renders it unfit to be trusted with all the powers which a free people ought to delegate to any government, would be an unsafe and improper depositary of the NATIONAL INTERESTS.
Struggles do not end when countries attempt the transition to democracy.
All politics takes place on a slippery slope. The most important four words in politics are up to a point.
We will keep the promise of Social Security by taking the responsible steps to strengthen it - not by turning it over to Wall Street.
Our American friends offer us money, arms, and advice. We take the money, we take the arms, and we decline the advice.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.