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Quote by Lincoln Steffens

“But, if I was never complete, I never exaggerated. Every one of those articles was an understatement, especially where the conditions were bad, and the proof thereof is that while each article seemed to astonish other cities, it disappointed the city which was its subject.... I cut twenty thousand words out of the Philadelphia article and yet I had not written half my facts. I know a man who is making a history of the corrupt construction of the Philadelphia City Hall, in three volumes, and he grieves because he lacks space. You can’t put all the known incidents of the corruption of an American city into a book. This is all very unscientific, but then, I am not a scientist. I am a journalist. I did not gather with indifference all the facts and arrange them patiently for permanent preservation and laboratory analysis. I did not want to preserve, I wanted to destroy the facts.”

Quote by Lincoln Steffens

Work

The Shame of the Cities

This novel delves into the complexities of urban life, highlighting the challenges and struggles faced by its inhabitants amidst the backdrop of urban decay. The narrative explores themes of poverty, corruption, and social inequality, offering a critical perspective on the state of modern urban environments. more

Author

Lincoln Steffens
Lincoln Steffens

Lincoln Steffens was an American journalist and writer known for his critical reporting on American politics and social issues. His work had a profound impact on American social reform in the early 20th century. more

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