Home / Personalities / H. L. Mencken

JournalistIntellectual life1880–1956

H. L. Mencken

A scathing critic of American democracy, Mencken combined economic libertarianism, Nietzschean elitism, and militant atheism, attacking puritanism, mass culture, and popular faith in newspapers and essays.

Closest spectrum
Libertarian
Associated ideology
Libertarian Authoritarianism
Closest personality
Max Stirner
Portrait of H. L. Mencken
Wikimedia Commons / Wikipédia

Political axes

Profile across the 12 axes

  • Structure

    Strong · Federal
    Federal75%
    Unitary25%
  • Representation

    Strong · Autocracy
    Democracy28%
    Autocracy73%
  • Power

    Very strong · Liberty
    Security9%
    Liberty91%
  • Immigration

    Leaning · Multiculturalism
    Assimilation38%
    Multiculturalism63%
  • Diplomacy

    Strong · Pacifist
    Militarist23%
    Pacifist78%
  • Intervention

    Strong · Non-interventionist
    Non-interventionist74%
    Nationalist26%
  • Economy

    Very strong · Private
    Public10%
    Private90%
  • Control

    Very strong · Free market
    Planning9%
    Free market91%
  • Trade

    Strong · Globalism
    Protectionism14%
    Globalism86%
  • Religion

    Very strong · Irreligious
    Irreligious95%
    Religious5%
  • Morality

    Leaning · Progressive
    Progressive63%
    Traditionalist38%
  • Technology

    Strong · Technology
    Technology85%
    Biology15%

What sets H. L. Mencken apart

Most unusual position

Control

H. L. Mencken leans further toward free market than 96% of the 416 personalities in the catalog.

Personality median 61H. L. Mencken 9

Of all the axes, Control is where H. L. Mencken stands furthest from the rest.

Most common position

Immigration

On Immigration, H. L. Mencken sits close to the catalog median.

Personality median 49H. L. Mencken 38

Here they share common ground with most personalities.