---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a large city can, after intense…"
description: "\"If a large city can, after intense intellectual efforts, choose for its mayor a man who merely will not steal from it, we consider it a triumph of the ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/frank-moore-colby-16494_intellectual_if-a-large-city-can-after-intense-intell_708668.jpg"
---

#  If a large city can, after intense intellectual efforts…

![“If a large city can, after intense intellectual efforts, choose for its mayor a man who merely will not steal from it, we consider it a triumph of the suffrage.” quote by Frank Moore Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/frank-moore-colby-16494_intellectual_if-a-large-city-can-after-intense-intell_708668.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/frank-moore-colby-16494_intellectual_if-a-large-city-can-after-intense-intell_708668.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6a/frank-moore-colby-16494_intellectual_if-a-large-city-can-after-intense-intell_708668.jpg)

> “If a large city can, after intense intellectual efforts, choose for its mayor a man who merely will not steal from it, we consider it a triumph of the suffrage.”

[Frank Moore Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-colby/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A city’s ability to elect an honest mayor after intense intellectual effort is seen as a triumph of democratic suffrage.

**In simple terms:** Choosing an honest leader shows democracy’s success.

Key Takeaway

Value and protect democratic processes.

Themes

democracy politics integrity

Mood

hopeful serious

Type

political educational

When to use this quote

- voting
- community meetings
- political activism

Key Concepts

civic virtue electoral theory

Questions to Reflect On

- What safeguards ensure honest leadership?
- How can citizens improve political engagement?

A Different Perspective

Idealizes outcomes without acknowledging systemic challenges.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Choose Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-mayor-4691588/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Large City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large-city-805423/) [Mayor Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mayor-man-5594491/) [Suffrage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffrage/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) [Triumph Suffrage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph-suffrage-5594490/)

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