Source: Freedom from Fear (1991)
Context: It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it. Most Burmese are familiar with the four a-gati, the four kinds of corruption. Chanda-gati, corruption induced by desire, is deviation from the right path in pursuit of bribes or for the sake of those one loves. Dosa-gati is taking the wrong path to spite those against whom one bears ill will, and moga-gati is aberration due to ignorance. But perhaps the worst of the four is bhaya-gati, for not only does bhaya, fear, stifle and slowly destroy all sense of right and wrong, it so often lies at the root of the other three kinds of corruption. Just as chanda-gati, when not the result of sheer avarice, can be caused by fear of want or fear of losing the goodwill of those one loves, so fear of being surpassed, humiliated or injured in some way can provide the impetus for ill will. And it would be difficult to dispel ignorance unless there is freedom to pursue the truth unfettered by fear. With so close a relationship between fear and corruption it is little wonder that in any society where fear is rife corruption in all forms becomes deeply entrenched.
“Who is all-powerful should fear everything.”
Qui peut tout doit tout craindre.
Auguste, act IV, scene ii.
Cinna (1641)
Original
Qui peut tout doit tout craindre.
Cinna (1641)
Help us to complete the source, original and additional information
Pierre Corneille 81
French tragedian 1606–1684Related quotes
“All-powerful god, who am I but the fear that I inspire in others?”
King Aegistheus to Jupiter, Act 2
The Flies (1943)
Divine Times (June/July 1978) Volume 7, Number 4
NOTE: There is currently dispute as to the meaning of this quotation, among those who edit at Wikiquote. The assertions have been made that he spoke this statement about himself, and others made that he spoke it of his father, Hans Ji Maharaj. That he said it is not disputed, and interpretations are left to the reader.
1970s
“The man who doesn’t fear, doesn’t live long. I fear everything.”
Source: The Ginger Star (1974), Chapter 5 (p. 32)
2012, Yangon University Speech (November 2012)
“Power changes everything till it is difficult to say who are the heroes and who the villains.”
Source: The Sweet Far Thing
Speech http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1844/aug/07/foreign-policy-of-ministers in the House of Commons (7 August 1844).
1840s
Context: Ministers, in fact, appear to shape their policy not with reference to the great interests of their own country, but from a consideration of the effect which their course may produce upon the position of Foreign Governments. It may very well be a desirable object, and one worthy of consideration, that a particular individual should continue in the administration of affairs in another country, but it is too much that from regard to that object, the interests of this country should be sacrificed, and that every demand of Foreign Powers should be acceded to... It seems to me that the system of purchasing temporary security by lasting sacrifices, and of placing the interests of Foreign Ministries above those of this country, is one that never can be worked out with advantage either to the honour of this country, or to that of the Administration which pursues such a course. Since the accession to office of the right hon. Gentleman opposite, no one can have failed to observe, that there has been a great diminution of British influence and consideration in every foreign country. Influence abroad is to be maintained only by the operation of one or other of two principles—hope and fear. We ought to teach the weaker Powers to hope that they will receive the support of this country in their time of danger. Powerful countries should be taught to fear that they will be resisted by England in any unjust acts either towards ourselves or towards those who are bound in ties of amity with us.