The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
- H. L. Mencken

If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner.
- H. L. Mencken

"Naturally, the common people don't want war, but after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine policy, and it is a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This ( Read more... )