"For every complex problem" (Mencken?)

[Fred Shapiro]

Barry,

I don't quite understand your posting.  What is the significance of the
1980 hit from Newspaperarchive in answering this question?

Fred Shapiro


On Fri, 22 Apr 2005 bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:

> I understand that the American newspaperman, H.L. Mencken said: "For
> every complex problem, there is an answer that is clear, simple--and
> wrong."
>
> What is the reference for this?  Did he really say this?
> ...
>    Daily Herald Tuesday, March 25, 1980 Chicago, Illinois ...many tests.
> H.I. Mencken once EVERY COMPLEX PROBLEM there is a simple so.....members
> up for re-elec- tion each and EVERY year. The message about stressing..
> ...  Daily Herald Sunday, February 24, 1980 Chicago, Illinois ...H.L.
> Mencken's dictum that for EVERY COMPLEX PROBLEM facing us there is
> a.....with the practicality of revealing EVERY ad- mission test. They
> contend..  ...  Star Herald Wednesday, February 18, 1981 Scottsbluff,
> Nebraska ...How to fight fires Somebody EVERY COMPLEX PROBLEM there is a
> simple..  ...  The Syracuse Herald Sunday, February 24, 1980 Syracuse,
> New York ...H.L. Mencken's dictum that for EVERY COMPLEX PROBLEM facing
> us there is a.....with the prac- ticality of revealing EVERY admission
> test. They contend that..