Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Upton Beall Sinclair Jr. was a renowned American author, journalist, and social activist known by his pen name, Upton Sinclair.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on September 20, 1878, in Baltimore, Maryland, Upton Sinclair passed away on November 25, 1968, at the age of 90.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Sinclair was an American citizen and a multifaceted individual with diverse professions. He was primarily known as a writer, however, his career also included stints as a journalist, editor, politician, and social activist.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a family of modest means, Sinclair developed a strong sense of social justice from an early age. His father, Upton Beall Sinclair Sr., was a lawyer who struggled with debt and bankruptcy. These experiences instilled in young Sinclair a deep concern for the welfare of the working class. He attended the City College of New York (now known as the City University of New York) but dropped out before completing his degree to pursue writing full-time.
Major Accomplishments
During his career, Sinclair wrote over 90 books and numerous articles on various subjects including social justice, politics, and economics. Some of his most notable works include _The Jungle_ (1906), a novel that exposed the harsh realities of the meatpacking industry in Chicago, and _Boston_ (1928), a historical novel set during the American Revolution.
Notable Works or Actions
One of Sinclair's most significant contributions was _The Jungle_. This expose-style novel sparked widespread outrage over the unsanitary conditions and worker exploitation prevalent in the meatpacking industry. Its publication led to government investigations, reforms in food safety regulations, and improved working conditions for factory workers. The book also catapulted Sinclair into national prominence as a champion of social justice.
Impact and Legacy
Upton Sinclair's work had far-reaching consequences, influencing not only his contemporaries but also future generations of writers and activists. His commitment to exposing social injustices through literature paved the way for other notable authors like John Steinbeck and George Orwell. As an advocate for workers' rights and labor reform, he inspired movements such as the creation of the Food Safety Act of 1906.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Upton Sinclair's legacy is built upon his tireless advocacy for social justice, coupled with his remarkable ability to convey complex issues through compelling literature. His quotes continue to resonate today due to their timeless relevance and insight into human struggles. A selection of his most notable quotes offers a glimpse into the depth of his convictions:
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it."
"The people are the rightful masters of both Congresses and courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to obey it!"
* "I wanted you to see what real poverty is."
As a testament to Sinclair's enduring influence, his quotes continue to inspire readers worldwide. His work serves as a reminder that literature has the power to drive change and challenge societal norms.
Quotes by Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair's insights on:
Was it a fact that every man had something in his life which palsied his arm, and struck him helpless in the battle for social justice? When.
What are we to say when we see asceticism preached to the poor by fat and comfortable retainers of the rich?
Study and think and improve your mind, and keep it clear of all this fog of hatred and propaganda.
It is not the New Inquisition which is our enemy today; it is hereditary Privilege. It is not Superstition, but Big Business which makes use of Superstition as a wolf makes use of sheep’s clothing.
I just put on what the lady says. I’ve been married three times, so I’ve had lots of supervision.
Like all religious thinkers, he carries with his scholar’s equipment a pair of metaphysical wings, wherewith at any moment he may soar into the empyrean, out of reach of vulgar materialists, like you and me.
The state might say that it had taken a year to write the book, and the author might say it had taken thirty. Goethe said that every bon mot of his had cost a purse of gold. What.
He is playing a bass part upon his cello, and so the excitement is nothing to him; no matter what happens in the treble, it is his task to saw out one long-drawn and lugubrious note after another, from four o’clock in the afternoon until nearly the same hour next morning, for his third of the total income of one dollar per hour.
Say the very simplest and most obvious things, say them as often as possible, and put into the saying all the screaming passion which one human voice can carry – that was Adolf Hitler’s technique.
Lanny smiled to himself. His chief called himself a “liberal,” and Lanny had been trying to make up his mind just what that meant. He decided that a liberal was a high-minded gentleman who believed the world was made in his own image.