"A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar"

This quote by H. L. Mencken is an amusing method of saying that politicians and burglars are both dishonest. Mencken is implying that it is difficult to find a political leader who is truthful and reliable, just as it is impossible to discover a truthful intruder. He is suggesting that political leaders and robbers are both dishonest and unreliable, which it is impossible to find a sincere among either. This quote is a commentary on the state of politics and the absence of dependability in politicians. It is a reminder that we ought to watch out for politicians and their promises, as they are typically not as sincere as they appear. Mencken's quote is an amusing way of highlighting the absence of trustworthiness in politics and the requirement for people to be alert when it concerns their elected officials.