Competence From Adultery to Zoology Quote

I Source Admire and Crave Competence In Any Field From Adultery to Zoology

Explore More About H. L. Mencken

If you’re interested in learning more about H. L. Mencken and their impact on history, here are some recommended resources:

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Who First Said This Competence Quote

This striking statement captures a profound respect for mastery. It suggests that true skill, wherever it appears, deserves our admiration. The quote’s power lies in its provocative range, spanning from the morally ambiguous to the scientifically rigorous. Discovering the “i admire and crave competence in any field from adultery to zoology quote origin” reveals layers of intellectual history that most people never consider. The statement forces us to examine expertise as a virtue in itself, separate from the context in which it is applied. But where did this memorable and often-cited aphorism come from? Its journey through literary history is more complex than a simple attribution might suggest.

The Original Author: H. L. Mencken

The sharp-witted American journalist and satirist H. L. Mencken planted the intellectual seed of this idea. His cynical and incisive commentary on society made him a controversial figure in American letters. The original thought appeared in the preface to his 1943 autobiographical book, “Heathen Days 1890-1936.” However, Mencken’s original wording was far more elaborate and characteristically cantankerous. He expressed not a craving for competence but rather a grudging, almost bitter, admiration for its rarity.

In his writing, Mencken struggled to imagine competence as anything but admirable, given how infrequently one encounters it. He then delivered the famous line, noting that anyone who possessed genuine skill, in any field “from adultery to zoology,” was a rare specimen indeed. In his classic style, he concluded that such individuals were the only people worthy of the oil it would take to fry them in Hell. This full passage reveals his deep-seated disdain for mediocrity alongside a profound respect for excellence. Mencken delivered a backhanded compliment with signature flair, and understanding the “i admire and crave competence in any field from adultery to zoology quote origin” requires grappling with his full context.

Spreading the Word

Mencken’s work quickly found a broader audience after publication. The “New York Times Book Review” featured “Heathen Days” in February 1943 and reproduced the entire passage. This introduction brought Mencken’s unique perspective to a wide readership. Newspapers across the country then picked up on the book—for example, “The Courier-Journal” in Louisville, Kentucky highlighted the quote in its own review the following month. These early mentions helped cement the connection between Mencken and the admiration for wide-ranging competence. However, they always presented the idea within his longer, more cynical framework. The short, punchy version we know today had not yet emerged, and the “i admire and crave competence in any field from adultery to zoology quote origin” remained tied to its original lengthy context.

What Does Admire and Crave Competence Mean

A Quote’s Transformation

Memorable ideas often get distilled over time. Long passages become short, quotable phrases—which is precisely what happened to Mencken’s observation. The evolution took a significant turn more than fifty years later with the work of British-American journalist Alistair Cooke. In his 1999 book, “Memories of the Great & the Good,” Cooke presented a much more concise version of the sentiment. He framed it as something Mencken once said directly to him.

According to Cooke’s account, Mencken lamented the growing number of errors in newspaper copy. Source He then supposedly declared, “I admire and crave simple competence in any field from adultery to zoology.” This version is cleaner, more direct, and arguably more powerful than the original. Yet, its origin remains mysterious. Mencken passed away in 1956, decades before Cooke published this account. Furthermore, no other record exists of Mencken ever saying or writing this exact phrase. It appears to be Cooke’s polished summary of Mencken’s known sentiment, and tracing the “i admire and crave competence in any field from adultery to zoology quote origin” brings us to this pivotal moment of transformation.

Cementing the Modern Version

The shorter, more elegant phrase quickly gained traction among writers and thinkers. Its brevity made it perfect for columns, articles, and collections of quotations. Syndicated columnist George F. Will used Cooke’s version in a November 1999 column, applying it to a discussion about corporate strategy. This usage propelled the condensed quote into mainstream discourse and demonstrated its versatility and timeless relevance.

How This Quote Influences Modern Thinking

Subsequently, quotation compilations began to feature the shorter version while still attributing it to Mencken. For instance, the 2008 book “Great Quotations That Shaped the Western World” includes the Cooke version but credits Mencken as the author. This common practice illustrates how attributions become simplified over time. The spirit of the quote belongs to Mencken, but the specific, popular wording likely belongs to Cooke or to the natural process of oral and written retelling. The “i admire and crave competence in any field from adultery to zoology quote origin” thus involves multiple contributors across different eras.

Why the Quote Endures

Universal truth and clever construction explain the lasting appeal of this quote. Anyone who has been frustrated by incompetence or inspired by true mastery will find it resonates deeply. The phrase celebrates expertise for its own sake and argues that the dedication, practice, and intelligence required to achieve a high level of skill are inherently valuable, regardless of the discipline.

The brilliant pairing of “adultery” with “zoology” proves key to its impact. This alphabetical bookending covers the entire spectrum of human endeavor and juxtaposes a moral transgression with a formal science. By doing so, it suggests that competence can exist anywhere. This provocative comparison grabs attention and forces the reader to think deeply. Excellence emerges as a universal quality, not confined to noble or socially approved pursuits. Ultimately, the quote champions the pursuit of doing something, anything, exceptionally well in a world that often settles for “good enough.”

In summary, H. L. Mencken originated the sentiment, while the popular phrasing “I admire and crave competence…” represents a later distillation. Its journey from a lengthy, cynical passage to a sharp, memorable aphorism highlights how ideas evolve and transform. Exploring the “i admire and crave competence in any field from adultery to zoology quote origin” reveals this fascinating evolution. Nevertheless, the central message remains unchanged. It stands as a timeless and witty tribute to the profound value of expertise in any form.