There are two impossibilities in life: "just one drink" and "an honest politician."
Interpretation
The quote humorously highlights the challenges of moderation and trust in politics.
H. L. Mencken's quote cleverly points out two concepts that are generally viewed as unattainable: the idea that one can indulge in 'just one drink' suggests the difficulty of moderation in alcohol consumption, while 'an honest politician' implies a deep skepticism regarding the integrity of political figures. By framing these ideas as impossibilities, Mencken uses humor to critique both personal impulses and societal issues within politics.
In practice
This quote could be used in a humorous speech at a political fundraiser 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.
New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions.
I wouldn't trust you with a bucket of water if my knickers were on fire!
If we had no faults, we would not derive so much pleasure from noting those of other people.
Can't act. Can't sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.
I do one accent - my own. I can make it louder or quieter. That is the sum total of my vocal range. I thought I could do an American accent until I tried it in front of an American - the expression of horror is still burnt onto my retinas.
I never thought I was funny. I don't THINK funny.
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