Notes on Democracy

Notes on Democracy
Author H. L. Mencken
Country United States
Language English
Subject Democracy
Published New York City
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf
Publication date
 1926
Media type Print
Pages 212
OCLC 182664

Notes on Democracy is a 1926 book by American journalist, satirist, cultural critic H. L. Mencken.

The initial print run was only 235 copies; another edition was printed later in 1926. A number of reprints of the book have continued to be issued, with editions released in 2008 and 2012.

Synopsis and impact

Notes on Democracy is a critique of democracy. The book places political leaders into two categories: the demagogue, whom "preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots" and the demaslave, "who listens to what these idiots have to say and then pretends that he believes it himself." Mencken depicts politicians as "men who have sold their honor for their jobs."[1]

The book contains the notable quotes from Mencken that "Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance."[2][3] and that "Democracy, too, is a religion. It is the worship of jackals by jackasses."[4]

Reception

Writing for The Saturday Review of Literature Walter Lippmann described the book as a "tremendous polemic" which "destroy[s] by rendering it ridiculous and unfashionable, the democratic tradition of the American pioneers" and likens Notes on Democracy to The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Vincent (1989). H.L. Mencken. Mercer University Press. p. 94. ISBN 9780865549210.
  2. ↑ "A quote from Notes on Democracy". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  3. ↑ Murali, D (13 October 2005). "Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance". The Hindu Business Line. Chennai. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "H.L. Mencken on democracy, government and politics - AEI". Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  5. ↑ Lippmann, Walter (11 December 1926). "H.L. Mencken". The Saturday Review of Literature. New York City. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
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