“ Corruption is a great power in the world, and talent is scarce. ”
Honoré de Balzac, Father Goriot (1835). copy citation
| Author | Honoré de Balzac |
|---|---|
| Source | Father Goriot |
| Topic | corruption power |
| Date | 1835 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by Ellen Marriage |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1237/1237-h/1237-h.htm |
Context
“they hate it, and try to slander it, because genius does not divide the spoil; but if genius persists, they bow before it. To sum it all up in a phrase, if they fail to smother genius in the mud, they fall on their knees and worship it. Corruption is a great power in the world, and talent is scarce. So corruption is the weapon of superfluous mediocrity; you will be made to feel the point of it everywhere. You will see women who spend more than ten thousand francs a year on dress, while their husband’s salary”
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