In the United States, doing good has come to be, like patriotism, a favorite device of persons with something to sell.
Interpretation
Mencken critiques the commercialization of altruism and patriotism in American society.
In this quote, H. L. Mencken observes that the act of doing good, much like expressing patriotism, has become a tool exploited by individuals seeking to promote their own interests or agendas. He suggests that what is often presented as genuine goodwill may actually be a superficial facade used to gain favor, sell products, or manipulate public perception.
In practice
During a discussion on the influence of marketing in social initiatives, this quote can highlight the misconception that altruism is always selfless.
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.
The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy.
It is my conviction that no normal man ever fell in love, within the ordinary meaning of the term, after the age of thirty.
I am indeed amazed when I consider how weak my mind is and how prone to error.
It is insane that two men, sitting on opposite sides of the world, should be able to decide to bring an end to civilization.
If, before undertaking some action, you must obtain the permission of society-you are not free, whether such permission is granted to you or not. Only a slave acts on permission. A permission is not a right.
One judge is coughing his life out into bloody handkerchiefs and the other is burying his wife, and you think this is how God answers your prayers?
The crowd, still shouting, gives way before us. We plough our way through. Women hold their aprons over their faces and go stumbling away. A roar of fury goes up. A wounded man is being carried off.
I believe in clear-cut positions. I think that the most arrogant position is this apparent, multidisciplinary modesty of "what I am saying now is not unconditional, it is just a hypothesis," and so on. It really is a most arrogant position. I think that the only way to be honest and expose yourself to criticism is to state clearly and dogmatically where you are. You must take the risk and have a position.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.