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Corruption quotes

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“Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.” Oscar Wilde, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” - 1890

“there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.” Mark Twain, “Following the Equator” - 1897

“Fair speech may hide a foul heart.” J. R. R. Tolkien, “The Two Towers” - 1954

“I hate ingratitude more in a man than lying, vainness, babbling, drunkenness, or any taint of vice whose strong corruption inhabits our frail blood.” William Shakespeare, “Twelfth Night” - 1623

“Corruption wins not more than honesty.” William Shakespeare, “Henry VIII” - 1623

“Virtue is chok'd with foul ambition, and charity chas'd hence by rancour's hand; foul subornation is predominant, and equity exil'd your highness' land.” William Shakespeare, “Henry VI, Part 2” - 1594

“Again, the many are more incorruptible than the few; they are like the greater quantity of water which is less easily corrupted than a little.” Aristotle, “Politics”

“Men are not corrupted by the exercise of power or debased by the habit of obedience, but by the exercise of a power which they believe to be illegal and by obedience to a rule which they consider to be usurped and oppressive.” Alexis de Tocqueville, “Democracy in America” - 1835

“To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” Barack Obama, “Inaugural Address” - 20 January 2009

Related topics

power speech meaning beauty virtue evil honesty vice ingratitude critics deceit government obedience masses oppression America quantity fairness congress

Related authors

William Shakespeare (3)
Oscar Wilde (1)
Mark Twain (1)
Aristotle (1)
Alexis de Tocqueville (1)
Barack Obama (1)
J. R. R. Tolkien (1)

Related sources

Twelfth Night (1)
Henry VI, Part 2 (1)
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1)
Henry VIII (1)
Politics (1)
Democracy in America (1)
Inaugural Address (1)
Following the Equator (1)
The Two Towers (1)