If I had my way, any man guilty of golf would be ineligible for any office of trust in the United States.
Interpretation
The quote humorously suggests that playing golf is a disqualifying trait for holding a position of trust.
H. L. Mencken's quote reflects a satirical view on golf and its players, implying that engaging in the sport indicates a lack of seriousness or integrity. This statement can be seen as a humorous critique of both the game of golf and the people who are involved in it, suggesting that those found guilty of playing it should not be entrusted with public responsibilities.
In practice
In a casual conversation about sports, you could use this quote to spark a debate on the moral integrity of athletes.
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.
The truthiness is, anyone can read the news to you. I promise to feel the news 'at' you.
Raillery is a mode of speaking in favor of one's wit at the expense of one's better nature.
I am sorry to tell you that I am getting very extravagant and spending all my money: and what is worse for you, I have been spending yours too.
My favourite comedian, of course, is Tim Conway. He has a way about him - being that belly-laugh kind of funny, and he has the improvisational skills, too. I've never seen anybody better.
I've been playing the game so long that my handicap is in Roman numerals.
"What's so unpleasant about being drunk?" "Ask a glass of water."
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