Few politicians do as much harm as the newspaper editor, the clergyman, or the lay reformer who, day in and day out, by virulent and untruthful invective aimed at the upholders of honesty, weakens them for the benefit of the frankly vicious.
From an essay on public ethics, this statement criticizes public figures like editors, clergy, and reformers who, through untruthful attacks on honest people, inadvertently aid the truly corrupt.
Share
More from Teddy Roosevelt
Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.
No man is worth his salt in public life who makes on the stump a pledge which he does not keep after election; and, if he makes such a pledge and does not keep it, hunt him out of public life.
Like all other good citizens, I accept the result with entire good humor and contentment.
Other voices in this conversation
