Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Mencken: he average man's love of liberty is nine-tenths imaginary

"The fact is that the average man's love of liberty is nine-tenths imaginary, exactly like his love of sense, justice and truth. He is not actually happy when free; he is uncomfortable, a bit alarmed, and intolerably lonely. Liberty is not a thing for the great masses of men. It is the exclusive possession of a small and disreputable minority, like knowledge, courage and honor. It takes a special sort of man to understand and enjoy liberty - and he is usually an outlaw in democratic societies."

H.L. Mencken, Baltimore Evening Sun, Feb. 12, 1923.

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