--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most men think graft a sporadic evil…" description: "\"Most 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 dis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/lincoln-steffens-10842_always_most-men-think-graft-a-sporadic-evil-bre_3211484.png" --- # Most men think graft a sporadic evil, breaking out here… ![“Most 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.” quote by Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/lincoln-steffens-10842_always_most-men-think-graft-a-sporadic-evil-bre_3211484.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/lincoln-steffens-10842_always_most-men-think-graft-a-sporadic-evil-bre_3211484.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/lincoln-steffens-10842_always_most-men-think-graft-a-sporadic-evil-bre_3211484.png) > “Most 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 Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Corruption in local areas spreads to higher levels, showing systemic interconnectedness. **In simple terms:** Local corruption leads to broader corruption. Key Takeaway Address corruption at all levels. Themes corruption systemic risk politics Mood critical hopeful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - government - business - community initiatives Key Concepts sociology public policy Questions to Reflect On - How can grassroots reforms influence national integrity? - What mechanisms link local and state corruption? A Different Perspective Changing local practices alone may not stop larger corruption. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/between/) [Breaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Connection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) [Discovered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovered/) [Discovered Graft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovered-graft-6001320/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Graft Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graft-cities-6001315/) [Graft Sporadic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graft-sporadic-6001313/) [Graft State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graft-state-6001316/) [Here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here/) [Leads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leads/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Out here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out-here/) [Same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/same/) [Shared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shared/) [Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soon/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Graft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-graft-6001318/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) ## Related quotes > [Ireland's always going to be my home, but so much is filmed in L.A., so you have to spend time out here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bolger/ireland-s-always-going-to-be-my-home-but-so-much-is-filmed-in-l-a-so/) [Sarah Bolger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bolger/) > [I absolutely love the fact that they are looking out for me and it's not really even just Charles and Dave. Out on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/i-absolutely-love-the-fact-that-they-are-looking-out-for-me-and-it-s/) [Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/) > [I'm not about trying to be out here fighting and shooting, stabbing and, you know, all that crap, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tone-loc-2/i-m-not-about-trying-to-be-out-here-fighting-and-shooting-stabbing/) [Tone Loc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tone-loc-2/) > [To pitch a perfect game wearing pinstripes at Yankee Stadium, it's unbelievable. Growing up a Yankee fan, to come out here and make history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wells/to-pitch-a-perfect-game-wearing-pinstripes-at-yankee-stadium-it-s/) [David Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wells/) > [My career was one of just taking it step by step. I didn't know how I was gonna fare on the professional circuit when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-watson/my-career-was-one-of-just-taking-it-step-by-step-i-didn-t-know-how-i/) [Tom Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-watson/) > [I love working in America, I love being part of the industry out here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-westwick/i-love-working-in-america-i-love-being-part-of-the-industry-out-here/) [Ed Westwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-westwick/) > [When I got out of college, I booked a movie called 'Go for It!' with Lionsgate, came out here, and I've been acting ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rodriguez/when-i-got-out-of-college-i-booked-a-movie-called-go-for-it-with/) [Gina Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-rodriguez/) > [The good news about New Mexico is we bring a lot of movies, a lot of television series out here, so I'm hoping I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-michael-quezada/the-good-news-about-new-mexico-is-we-bring-a-lot-of-movies-a-lot-of/) [Steven Michael Quezada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-michael-quezada/) > [I love the competition, and if I can continue to compete and give myself a chance to win tournaments, I'll still play out here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-watson/i-love-the-competition-and-if-i-can-continue-to-compete-and-give/) [Tom Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-watson/) > [I moved out here when I was 40 and guess what, they are not looking for 40-year-olds in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-raci/i-moved-out-here-when-i-was-40-and-guess-what-they-are-not-looking/) [Paul Raci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-raci/) > [One thing they don't have out here in California is Rita's Italian Ices. We used to have one right next to our house and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-jonas/one-thing-they-don-t-have-out-here-in-california-is-rita-s-italian/) [Joe Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-jonas/) > [Walk away from anyone who is unduly focused on vacation and compensation. It's a sign of potential trouble. No matter how talented you are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/walk-away-from-anyone-who-is-unduly-focused-on-vacation-and/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [I'm kind of a builder of institutions. I think I've got some ability to look at what's out here, look at a playing field,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/i-m-kind-of-a-builder-of-institutions-i-think-i-ve-got-some-ability/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [It would be a tragic mistake for us out here to imagine that Bush represents the hearts and the minds of the majority of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breyten-breytenbach/it-would-be-a-tragic-mistake-for-us-out-here-to-imagine-that-bush/) [Breyten Breytenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breyten-breytenbach/) > [I've worked for a long time, but I got to the point where I felt like, I am out here so far, how do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hunt/i-ve-worked-for-a-long-time-but-i-got-to-the-point-where-i-felt-like/) [Helen Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hunt/) ## More by Lincoln Steffens > [The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-typical-american-citizen-is-the-business-man-the-typical-business/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [The best picture has not yet been painted; the greatest poem is still unsung; the mightiest novel remains to be written; the divinest music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-best-picture-has-not-yet-been-painted-the-greatest-poem-is-still/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [In science, probably ninety-nine percent of the knowable has to be discovered. We know only a few streaks about astronomy. We are only beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/in-science-probably-ninety-nine-percent-of-the-knowable-has-to-be/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [I never heard a Christian sermon preached in a church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/i-never-heard-a-christian-sermon-preached-in-a-church/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [We need some great failures. Especially we ever-successful Americans - conscious, intelligent, illuminating failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/we-need-some-great-failures-especially-we-ever-successful-americans/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [Boston has carried the practice of hypocrisy to the n-th degree of refinement, grace, and failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/boston-has-carried-the-practice-of-hypocrisy-to-the-n-th-degree-of/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [The commercial spirit is the spirit of profit, not patriotism; of credit, not honor; of individual gain, not national prosperity; of trade and dickering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-commercial-spirit-is-the-spirit-of-profit-not-patriotism-of/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [The misgovernment of the American people is misgovernment by the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-misgovernment-of-the-american-people-is-misgovernment-by-the/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [I am really puzzled to understand myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/i-am-really-puzzled-to-understand-myself/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [The longer I live, the more I feel that the individual is not so much to blame - not even the worst individuals, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-longer-i-live-the-more-i-feel-that-the-individual-is-not-so-much/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [Somebody must take a chance. There are monkeys who became men, and the monkeys who didn't are still jumping around in trees making faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/somebody-must-take-a-chance-there-are-monkeys-who-became-men-and-the/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [Power is what men seek and any group that gets it will abuse it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/power-is-what-men-seek-and-any-group-that-gets-it-will-abuse-it/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [Power is what men seek, and any group that gets it will abuse it. It is the same story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/power-is-what-men-seek-and-any-group-that-gets-it-will-abuse-it-it-is/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [And an educated mind is nothing but the God-given mind of a child after his parents' and his grandparents' generation have got through molding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/and-an-educated-mind-is-nothing-but-the-god-given-mind-of-a-child/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [It is possible to get an education at a university. It has been done; not often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/it-is-possible-to-get-an-education-at-a-university-it-has-been-done/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) [Explore all 63 Lincoln Steffens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most 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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lincoln Steffens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/most-men-think-graft-a-sporadic-evil-breaking-out-here-and-there-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/most-men-think-graft-a-sporadic-evil-breaking-out-here-and-there-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/lincoln-steffens-10842_always_most-men-think-graft-a-sporadic-evil-bre_3211484.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/lincoln-steffens-10842_always_most-men-think-graft-a-sporadic-evil-bre_3211484.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/lincoln-steffens-10842_always_most-men-think-graft-a-sporadic-evil-bre_3211484.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most men think graft a sporadic evil, breaking out here and there, with no connection between outbreaks. I…” — Lincoln Steffens", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lincoln Steffens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most men think graft a sporadic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/most-men-think-graft-a-sporadic-evil-breaking-out-here-and-there-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/most-men-think-graft-a-sporadic-evil-breaking-out-here-and-there-with/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```