It only serves to show what sort of person a man must be who can't even get testimonials. No, no; if a man brings references, it proves nothing; but if he can't, it proves a great deal.
Joseph PulitzerRead
An able, disinterested, public-spirited press, with trained intelligence to know the right and courage to do it, can preserve that public virtue without which popular government is a sham and a mockery
Interpretation
What this quote means
A free and responsible press is essential for a genuine democracy.
Joseph Pulitzer emphasizes the critical role of an independent and ethical press in safeguarding public virtue and accountability in a democracy. Without such a press, the very foundations of popular government become meaningless, highlighting the necessity of courage and intelligence in journalism to serve the public good.
Themes
PressDemocracyPublic VirtueJournalismAccountability
In practice
Example use cases
During a keynote speech on democracy, one might cite this quote to stress the importance of a responsible press.
More from Joseph Pulitzer
All quotes →What a newspaper needs in its news, in its headlines, and on its editorial page is terseness, humor, descriptive power, satire, originality, good literary style, clever condensation, and accuracy, accuracy, accuracy!
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Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.
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If you will give the matter a moment's thought, you'll see that memory is the highest faculty of the human mind.
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The American people want something terse, forcible, picturesque, striking - something that will arrest their attention, enlist their sympathy, arouse their indignation, stimulate their imagination, convince their reason, awaken their conscience.
Joseph PulitzerRead
Our Republic and its press will rise or fall together.
Joseph PulitzerRead
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