Who said “Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.”?

Verified

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

SourceA Mencken Chrestomathy (1949)

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: A Mencken Chrestomathy (1949).

APA

Mencken, H. L. (n.d.). Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35042-puritanism-the-haunting-fear-that-someone-somewhere-may/

MLA

Mencken, H. L. “Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35042-puritanism-the-haunting-fear-that-someone-somewhere-may/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Mencken, H. L. “Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35042-puritanism-the-haunting-fear-that-someone-somewhere-may/.

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