Lincoln Steffens
Lincoln Steffens
Lincoln Joseph Steffenswas a New York reporter who launched a series of articles in McClure's, called Tweed Days in St. Louis, that would later be published together in a book titled The Shame of the Cities. He is remembered for investigating corruption in municipal government in American cities and for his early support for the Soviet Union...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionJournalist
Date of Birth6 April 1866
CountryUnited States of America
men class cities
In all cities, the better classes - the business men - are the sources of corruption, but they are so rarely pursued and caught that we do not fully realize whence the trouble comes.
party men evil
Whenever anything extraordinary is done in American municipal politics, whether for good or for evil, you can trace it almost invariably to one man. The people do not do it. Neither do the 'gangs,' 'combines,' or political parties.
people
The misgovernment of the American people is misgovernment by the American people.
sense-of-humor existence
The only thing worth having in an earthly existence is a sense of humor.
growth done world
Nothing is done. Everything in the world remains to be done or done over.
atheism morality ethics
Morality is only moral when it is voluntary.
creativity government law
Nothing is done. Everything in the world remains to be done or done over. The greatest picture is not yet painted, the greatest play isn't written, the greatest poem is unsung. There isn't in all the world a perfect railroad, nor a good government, nor a sound law. Physics, mathematics, and especially the most advanced and exact of the sciences are being fundamentally revised. . . Psychology, economics, and sociology are awaiting a Darwin, whose work in turn is awaiting an Einstein.
baby eye genius
Keep your baby eyes (which are the eyes of genius) on what we don't know