Congress consists of one-third, more or less, scoundrels; two-thirds, more or less, idiots; and three-thirds, more or less, poltroons.
Interpretation
Mencken humorously criticizes the quality of Congress by labeling its members derogatorily.
In this quote, H. L. Mencken offers a satirical perspective on the composition of Congress, suggesting that a significant portion of its members are either dishonest or foolish. By exaggerating the proportions and using humorous language, Mencken captures the public's frustration and skepticism towards political institutions and their representatives.
In practice
During a comedy night about politics, this quote could be used to lighten the mood.
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.
It amused me to think that one can tell the truth when one is drunk and nobody will believe it.
Nothing is so aggravating as calmness. There is something positively brutal about the good temper of most modern men.
I've never been asked to appear on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!,' so I guess I mustn't be on the professional skids just yet.
Ignorant people think it is the noise which fighting cats make that is so aggravating, but it ain't so; it is the sickening grammar that they use.
Oh, for a pin that would puncture pretension!
When you've seen a nude infant doing a backward somersault you know why clothing exists.
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