Lincoln Steffens

Lincoln Steffens

Journalist

Lincoln Steffens was a pioneering American journalist known for his investigative work exposing political corruption and advocating for social reform.

Father Men Cities Government People Atheism
Born
April 6, 1866
Died
August 9, 1936
Quotes
52
Rank
#2786

About Lincoln Steffens

Lincoln Steffens — Life and Legacy

Lincoln Steffens was a significant figure in early 20th-century journalism, recognized for his commitment to uncovering the truth about political corruption. His notable work, 'The Shame of the Cities,' provided a detailed examination of urban governance failures, emphasizing the need for accountability and reform. Steffens' core belief was that journalism should serve as a catalyst for social change, a perspective reflected in his famous assertion, 'I have seen the future, and it works.' This quote encapsulates his optimism about progressive reforms and the potential for collective action to improve society. By challenging the complacency of the public and the media, Steffens pushed for a more engaged citizenry willing to confront uncomfortable truths. Today, his insights remain relevant as they continue to inspire journalists and activists fighting against corruption and advocating for justice.

Quote collection

Lincoln Steffens quotes (page 1 of 3)

52 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

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"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."

Creativity Law Play
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"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."

Men Class Cities
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"Keep your baby eyes (which are the eyes of genius) on what we don't know"

Baby Eye Genius
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"The misgovernment of the American people is misgovernment by the American people."

People
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"Power is what men seek, and any group that gets it will abuse it. It is the same story."

Men Abuse Groups
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"You ask men in office to be honest; I ask them to serve the public."

Men Office Honest
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"I have seen the future, and it works."

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"If we would leave parties to the politicians, and would vote not for the party, not even for men, but for the city, and the State, and the nation, we should rule parties, and cities, and States, and nation."

Party Men Cities
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"First in violence, deepest in dirt, lawless, unlovely, ill-smelling, irreverent, new; an overgrown gawk of a - village, the "tough" among cities, a spectacle for the nation."

Cities Chicago Village
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"It is privilege that causes evil in the world, not wickedness, and not men."

Men Evil Wickedness
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"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."

Party Men People
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"Nothing is done. Everything in the world remains to be done or done over."

Growth Done World
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"Why is it that the less intelligence people have, the more spiritual they are? They seem to fill all the vacant, ignorant spaces in their heads with soul. Which explains how it is that the less knowledge they have, the more religion."

Spiritual Space People
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"If we would vote in mass on the more promising ticket, or, if the two are equally bad, would throw out the party that is in, and wait till the next election and then throw out the other party that is in - then, I say, the commercial politician would feel a demand for good government and he would supply it."

Party Government Two
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"And an educated mind is nothing but the God-given mind of a child after his parents' and his grandparents' generation have got through molding it. We can't help teaching you; you will ask that of us; but we are prone to teach you what we know, and I am going, now and again, to warn you: Remember we really don't know anything. Keep your baby eyes (which are the eyes of genius) on what we don't know. That is your playground, bare and graveled, safe and unbreakable."

Baby Children Teaching
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"Care like hell! Sit around the bars and drink, and pose, and pretend, all you want to, but in reality, deep down underneath, care like hell."

Reality Bars Care
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"Art is like a border of flowers along the course of civilization."

Art Flower Civilization
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