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Lincoln Steffens Quotes

Powerful Lincoln Steffens for Daily Growth

About Lincoln Steffens

Lincoln Steffens (1866-1936) was an American journalist, muckraker, and social critic who significantly influenced investigative journalism in the early 20th century. Born on February 6, 1866, in San Francisco, California, Steffens began his career as a newsboy before studying law at Columbia University. However, he left law school to pursue journalism, joining McClure's Magazine in 1895. Steffens gained prominence for his groundbreaking investigative reports, exposing corruption and malpractice in American politics and business. His most famous work is "The Shame of the Cities," a series of articles published in McClure's Magazine from 1904 to 1905. These articles exposed widespread corruption in several major American cities, including New York City, Baltimore, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Detroit. In 1906, Steffens coined the term "muckraker" to describe investigative journalists who expose political and social injustices. His other notable works include "The Struggle for Self-Government" (1914), a series of articles about the Russian Revolution, and "Autobiography of an Ex-Mugwump" (1919), a memoir detailing his political evolution from a Republican to a Progressive. Steffens was influenced by authors like Upton Sinclair, Ida Tarbell, and Ray Stannard Baker. He also worked closely with Samuel McClure, the publisher of McClure's Magazine. His investigative journalism inspired future muckrakers, setting a precedent for aggressive and impactful investigative reporting. Despite his critical role in exposing corruption, Steffens faced criticism for his radical views, particularly during the Red Scare following World War I. He died on January 13, 1936, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential journalists and social critics in American history.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I have come to believe that the only thing necessary to the corporation is the right to make a profit."

This quote by Lincoln Steffens underscores the essential principle that underlies the existence and functioning of corporations - the pursuit of profit. In simpler terms, it means that a corporation, as an entity, primarily exists for the purpose of generating profits, fulfilling economic needs, and creating value for its shareholders or owners. This quote highlights the capitalistic nature of corporations, emphasizing their role in driving economic growth and development. However, it's important to recognize that while profit-making is essential, it should not come at the expense of social responsibility or ethical conduct.

"Every man is the architect of his own fate."

This quote suggests that individuals have control over their destiny or outcomes in life. It emphasizes personal responsibility, implying that one's actions, choices, and decisions shape their future. In other words, a person has the power to build and create their own life and success by taking charge of their actions and making informed decisions.

"The cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing."

Lincoln Steffens' quote, "The cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing," suggests that a cynical person places monetary worth above intrinsic value. They may be knowledgeable about costs, but they have lost sight of what truly matters – the inherent worth or importance of things. This quote can serve as a reminder to not reduce all aspects of life to mere transactions, and to always consider the deeper significance and value of people, experiences, and ideas.

"I'd rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of a man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."

Lincoln Steffens' quote emphasizes living a vibrant, impactful life rather than settling for a mundane existence. He advocates for seizing opportunities and making the most of each moment, comparing this approach to a "superb meteor" that shines brightly before fading away, contrasting it with a "sleepy and permanent planet," representing a monotonous life. In essence, Steffens encourages us to focus on living meaningfully and passionately, rather than prolonging our existence for the sake of longevity.

"Corruption is like love; it will not come when pursued, but will sit at your door till invited."

This quote suggests that corruption, like love, does not respond well to being chased or forced; instead, it tends to approach us when we are open to it, or when we create an environment where it feels welcomed. It encourages the idea that if we aim to keep corruption at bay, we should focus on creating and maintaining a culture of honesty, transparency, and integrity in our societies, rather than merely trying to eliminate it directly.

My mother would thump me sharply on the head with a thimble or a spoon if I became too noisy with the whistle when I was playing I was a steamboat captain. She had no sense of the dignity of command.

- Lincoln Steffens

No Sense, Became, Sharply, Noisy

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.

- Lincoln Steffens

Business, Caught, Cities, Whence

I have been contending all my life, and always with God.

- Lincoln Steffens

My Life, Always, All My Life, Contending

My father would invite me sweetly to come and sit on a stool at his feet, and, as I let myself trustingly down, he would gently kick the seat from under me - and laugh.

- Lincoln Steffens

Father, Feet, Stool, Sweetly

The commercial spirit is the spirit of profit, not patriotism; of credit, not honor; of individual gain, not national prosperity; of trade and dickering, not principle.

- Lincoln Steffens

Honor, Commercial, Principle, Profit

Most men think graft a sporadic evil, breaking out here and there, with no connection between outbreaks. I shared the same opinion, but very soon I discovered that the graft in the cities always leads to the graft in the State.

- Lincoln Steffens

Here, Very, Shared, No Connection

My father, the practical joker, did not care for practical jokes on himself; he did not encourage the practice in me.

- Lincoln Steffens

Practice, Himself, Practical, Joker

One improvement I have learned from my childhood experience with my father: I do not threaten punishment in the morning. That was awful. Late into the night I would lie awake tossing and wondering what he was going to do to me. Usually he did nothing. A quiet, impressive 'talking to' was all I got.

- Lincoln Steffens

Father, Lie, Awful, Wondering

The Russian people, sober, are said to be a gentle people.

- Lincoln Steffens

Gentle, Russian, Sober

The spirit of graft and of lawlessness is the American spirit.

- Lincoln Steffens

American, Spirit, Lawlessness

The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big business man' and very busy, he does not neglect; he is busy with politics, oh, very busy and very businesslike.

- Lincoln Steffens

Big, Citizen, Very, Big Business

If our political leaders are to be always a lot of political merchants, they will supply any demand we may create. All we have to do is to establish a steady demand for good government.

- Lincoln Steffens

Always, Political Leaders, Establish

Power is what men seek and any group that gets it will abuse it.

- Lincoln Steffens

Men, Will, Abuse, Group

The Soviet government sprouted and grew out of the habits, the psychology, and the condition of the Russian people. It fitted them. They understand it.

- Lincoln Steffens

Habits, Understand, Russian, Russian People

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.

- Lincoln Steffens

City, Nation, Cities, Party

My father was slower, but he was severer than my mother, who was quick but light and irregular in discipline.

- Lincoln Steffens

Mother, Light, Quick, Slower

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.

- Lincoln Steffens

Wait, Next, Other, Vote

The doctrine of Jesus is the most revolutionary propaganda that I have ever encountered.

- Lincoln Steffens

Most, Encountered, Ever, Doctrine

Morality is only moral when it is voluntary.

- Lincoln Steffens

Moral, Morality, Only, Voluntary

Boston has carried the practice of hypocrisy to the n-th degree of refinement, grace, and failure.

- Lincoln Steffens

Practice, Boston, Carried, Refinement

I am really puzzled to understand myself.

- Lincoln Steffens

Myself, I Am, Understand, Puzzled

If my father could watch my son for a while, he might realize his own immortality.

- Lincoln Steffens

Immortality, Might, Could, Realize

Chicago will give you a chance. The sporting spirit is the spirit of Chicago.

- Lincoln Steffens

Chance, Give, Will, Chicago

You ask men in office to be honest; I ask them to serve the public.

- Lincoln Steffens

Men, Ask, Public, To Be Honest

The longer I live, the more I feel that the individual is not so much to blame - not even the worst individuals, not even the 'best' citizens - as the system of corruption which has grown up about us, and which rewards an honest man with a mere living and a crook with all the magnificence of our magnificent modern life.

- Lincoln Steffens

Feel, Magnificent, About, Crook

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.

- Lincoln Steffens

Politics, Political, Almost, Trace

I never heard a Christian sermon preached in a church.

- Lincoln Steffens

Christian, Church, Never, Preached

We need some great failures. Especially we ever-successful Americans - conscious, intelligent, illuminating failures.

- Lincoln Steffens

Some, Failures, Illuminating, Conscious

Revolt is not reform, and one revolutionary administration is not good government.

- Lincoln Steffens

Government, Reform, Revolutionary

I let my boy go and do and say pretty much as he likes, as, and perhaps because, my father kept no string on me.

- Lincoln Steffens

Father, Pretty, String, Likes

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