Who provided the quotation "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people"?

The quotation in the question is the version that appears in The Yale Book of Quotations (2006 edition, p. 512) and it is this version that is usually used today. The full original version, as published by H. L. Mencken, is this: "No one in this world, so far as I know—and I have researched the records for years, and employed agents to help me—has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby." ('Notes On Journalism' in the Chicago Tribune, 19 September 1926).

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16 Comments

✨KRISTA✨

It is "attributed" but not "proven".

lady draggon

Explanation is way too short!!!

Jeannie Ellis

Pat Wells, I immediately thought that was probably the Clinton’s motto.

Mark Wheeless

Pat Wells, more to the point, the guy that currently occupies the White House.

teacherchicky

They've NEVER found proof that Mencken actually said this because it was NEVER documented anywhere and it could have been several other people!

teacherchicky

Boy, majority votes was REALLY WRONG on THIS one!

Diane Herbert Wall

should've trusted my instincts.

Peter de Loriol

It is attributed to Mencken, but not proven

Chris Braid

Good question with excellent alternative options. Thanks.

Nicholas Miernicki

I have read works by all four and I have to admit, I used a 50/50, because the quote is pretty snarky, so I thought it had to be either Twain or Mencken. The 50/50 gave me Mencken and Parker and I went with Mencken.