Who said “Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in…”?

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H. L. Mencken. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"What I Believe" in The Forum 84 (September 1930), p. 136

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“Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.”
— H. L. Mencken
Verified"What I Believe" in The Forum 84 (September 1930), p. 136 · evidenceDoubt
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "What I Believe" in The Forum 84 (September 1930), p. 136.

APA

Mencken, H. L. (n.d.). Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/13754-men-become-civilized-not-in-proportion-to-their/

MLA

Mencken, H. L. “Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/13754-men-become-civilized-not-in-proportion-to-their/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Mencken, H. L. “Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/13754-men-become-civilized-not-in-proportion-to-their/.

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