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.
Lincoln SteffensRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the impact of individual leadership in American municipal politics, suggesting that significant changes are often driven by a single person rather than collective groups.
Lincoln Steffens highlights the role of individual agency in political actions within American municipalities, asserting that whether these actions are beneficial or detrimental, they can typically be traced back to one influential figure. This perspective calls attention to the power dynamic where the masses and larger political organizations may not be the driving forces for change, but rather certain key individuals who shape outcomes.
Themes
PoliticsLeadershipIndividualChangeInfluence
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about civic responsibility during a political campaign.
More from Lincoln Steffens
All quotes βMost 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 SteffensRead
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