We didn’t realize that we loved oft quoted H.L. MENCKEN, possibly the most language-obsessed writer of the early 20th century, until we read what he had put on his tombstone:
“If, after I depart this vale, you ever remember me and have thought to please my ghost, forgive some sinner, and wink your eye at some homely girl.”
How did we end up stumbling upon this literary trivia gem?
Because of this quote about voter turnout from CHRISTOPHER HAYES, the Washington editor of THE NATION in our latest issue of Activate:
“The larger the franchise the better. There are probably ill-informed people voting in this election, but if you believe in the basic principles of democracy, then everyone should be voting. There’s an old H.L. Mencken quote: ‘Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.'”
We enjoy his epitaph more, but we’re morbid like that.
Click here to read the entire interview with Hayes, which includes his insights on the upcoming election, and if you’ve got an equally witty literary epitaph to share, leave it in the comments.