No man should be in public office who can’t make more money in private life.

Meaning of the quote

This quote suggests that people should not hold public office if they can earn more money by working in the private sector instead. The idea is that public servants should not be in it for the money, but rather to serve the people. If someone is mainly interested in making as much money as possible, they may not be the best person to hold a public position where they are supposed to act in the best interests of the community, not their own personal wealth.