Early Progressives joined reform movements out of idealist conviction, not self-interest

Evidence

Mary’s ambitions were not for herself. She had sought out a job with a politician not because she was interested in politics but because she was interested in what politics could do. She was another of the moths who in the years before World War I hovered so thickly around the flame of idealism. — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 291

Categorization

• XREF: The moth-and-flame image of turn-of-century Progressive idealists echoes themes in the Robert Caro biography of the idealist-turned-pragmatist arc, and resonates with how reformers in general launch careers on conviction before ambition takes over. — connects to: Reform succeeded only where conscience aligned with self-interest — Lawrence M. Friedman, A History of American Law, 3200; Nonconformist reformers subordinate self-preservation to their moral principles; Early reformers worked without pay on ideological conviction, not money. — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 445

Broader Connections

• Reform succeeded only where conscience aligned with self-interest #qualifies (0.85) — Lawrence M. Friedman, A History of American Law, 3200
• Nonconformist reformers subordinate self-preservation to their moral principles #corroborates (0.85)