There is no such thing, at this stage of the world's history in America, as an independent press... We are the tools and the vassals of the rich behind the scenes. We are marionettes. These men pull the strings and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our capacities are all the property of these men - we are intellectual prostitutes.

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "There is no such thing, at this stage of the world's history in America, as an independent press... We are the tools and the vassals of the rich behind the scenes. We are marionettes. These men pull the strings and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our capacities are all the property of these men - we are intellectual prostitutes." in the context of "John Swinton, c. 1883. Attributed to "a prominent New York journalist" in E. J. Schellhouse, The New Republic. Founded on the Natural and Inalienable Rights of Man (1883), pp. 122-123. Later sources attribute this specifically to Swinton. American Notes & Queries (Jan 1943, p. 159) says "It is more than likely that John Swinton's statement ... was made at the 'Journalists' Gathering' in the rooms of the Twilight Club in the Mills Building, New York City, on April 12, 1883. The subject of Swinton's talk was 'Some Things an Editor Dare Not Discuss.'"" to mean that wisdom is timeless.