On cynics:
“Cynic” is a term used by an idealist to describe a realist.
—Sir Humphrey Appleby
On Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged:
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs. — John Rogers
On expressing oneself:
“The person who says he knows what he thinks but cannot express it usually does not know what he thinks.” — Mortimer Adler
On Trump:
Trumpty-Dumpty tried to build a great wall.
But Trumpty-Dumpty bungled it all.
All of his lawyers and all of his men
Couldn’t make Trumpty POTUS again.
H. L. Mencken on Trump:
As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.