Charles I of England (1600–1649) monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland
Last words, said on the scaffold before his execution. ( 30 January, 1649 http://anglicanhistory.org/charles/charles1.html).
Charles I of England (1600–1649) monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland
Last words, said on the scaffold before his execution. ( 30 January, 1649 http://anglicanhistory.org/charles/charles1.html).
Pratibha Patil (1934) 12th President of India
Patil's goodbye wish: A 'corruption-free India' https://in.news.yahoo.com/patils-goodbye-wish-corruption-free-india-143318154.html in: IANS India Private Limited By Indo Asian News Service, 24 July 2012. <br class="br">Goodybe Wish
“Where the roots of private virtue are diseased, the fruit of public probity cannot but be corrupt.”
Felix Adler (1851–1933) German American professor of political and social ethics, rationalist, and lecturer
Founding Address (1876)
John Bright (1811–1889) British Radical and Liberal statesman
Letter to Richard Congrieve (24 November 1866), quoted in Maurice Cowling, 1867: Disraeli, Gladstone and Revolution. The Passing of the second Reform Bill (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1967), p. 25.
1860s
Margaret Cho (1968) American stand-up comedian
From Her Books, I Have Chosen To Stay And Fight, ACTIVISM
Ilham Aliyev (1961) 4th President of Azerbaijan from 2003
During the opening of opening of a new office building of the Anti-Corruption Department under the Prosecutor-General of the Republic of Azerbaijan (30 September 2013) http://en.president.az/articles/9445 <br class="br">Anti-corruption policy
Ilham Aliyev (1961) 4th President of Azerbaijan from 2003
During the meeting of Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of socio-economic development in 2015 and objectives for the future http://en.azvision.az/news.php?id=27512 <br class="br">Anti-corruption policy
Democritus Ancient Greek philosopher, pupil of Leucippus, founder of the atomic theory
Source Book in Ancient Philosophy (1907), The Golden Sayings of Democritus
Corneliu Zelea Codreanu (1899–1938) Romanian politician
For My Legionaries: The Iron Guard (1936), Politics
“We need some honesty and sincerity instead of corrupt government in Washington.”
Jack Kevorkian (1928–2011) American pathologist, euthanasia activist
As quoted in "Kevorkian Plans Congressional Run" (13 March 2008), Fox News
2000s, 2008
Ilana Mercer South African writer
"Thanks, POTUS, For Breaking-Up The Annual Correspondents’ Circle Jerk." http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/05/thanks_potus_for_breakingup_the_annual_correspondents_circle_jerk.html The American Thinker, May 8, 2017. <br class="br">2010s, 2017
Tawakkol Karman (1979) Yemeni journalist, politician, human rights activist, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient
Peace Prize
2010s, Democracy Now! interview (2011)
Saddam Hussein (1937–2006) Iraqi politician and President
President Saddam Hussein's Speech on National Day (1981)
“All luxury corrupts either the morals or the taste.”
Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French moralist and essayist
John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America
Speech at http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKPOF-045-049.aspx NATO Headquarters, Naples Italy (2 July 1963) <br class="br">1963
John Paul Stevens (1920–2019) Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Dissenting, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. ___ (2010).
Sören Kierkegaard (1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, founder of Existentialism
Journals VA 14
1840s, The Journals of Søren Kierkegaard, 1840s
“Great wealth can only be obtained through deception and corruption.”
Tenzin Gyatso (1935) spiritual leader of Tibet
37 Practices of the Bodhisattva, teaching at Bodhgaya https://www.lamayeshe.com/article/thirty-seven-practices-bodhisattva (January 1974).
After Donald Trump linked to a Jihad Watch post http://web.archive.org/web/20160803132925/https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump/posts/10157422799195725 on his Facebook account. Donald Trump links to Jihad Watch story on Facebook http://web.archive.org/web/20160810201416/https://www.jihadwatch.org/2016/08/donald-trump-links-to-jihad-watch-story-on-facebook (August 3, 2016), Jihad Watch.
Nathanael Greene (1742–1786) American general in the American Revolutionary War
Letter to George Washington (November 1779)
Manuel Fraga Iribarne (1922–2012) Spanish politician
1949, reported in Hernández, María Jesús. El verbo de don Manuel http://www.elmundo.es/especiales/espana/manuel-fraga/perlas/02.html Elmundo.es. <br class="br">Franco and Francoism
Noam Chomsky (1928) american linguist, philosopher and activist
Talk titled "Prospects for Peace in the Middle East" at the University of Toledo, Ohio, March 4, 2001 http://www.chomsky.info/talks/20010304.htm. <br class="br">Quotes 2000s, 2001
George W. Bush (1946) 43rd President of the United States
2000s, 2008, Address to the United Nations General Assembly (September 2008)
Adolf Hitler (1889–1945) Führer and Reich Chancellor of Germany, Leader of the Nazi Party
1920s, Zweites Buch (1928)
Willem de Kooning (1904–1997) Dutch painter
in conversation with W.C. Seitz
Quote from Abstract Expressionist Painting in America, W.C, Seitz, Cambridge Massachusetts, 1983, p. 121.
1980's
“Associating with corrupt people makes you subject to suspicion.”
Husayn ibn Ali (626–680) The grandson of Muhammad and the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib
Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.78, p. 122
General Quotes
Stanley Baldwin (1867–1947) Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Broadcast from London (6 March 1934); published in This Torch of Freedom (1935), p. 20.
1934
Pat Cadigan book Synners
“Aren’t they all?” Sam asked him.
Source: Synners (1991), Chapter 5 (pp. 52-53)
Nigel Farage (1964) British politician and former commodity broker
Quote by Nigel Farage on an article written by himself in the Telegraph, 6 July 2012. The time will never be right for David Cameron to hold a referendum on the EU. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/9378567/The-time-will-never-be-right-for-David-Cameron-to-hold-a-referendum-on-the-EU.html <br class="br">2012
K. R. Narayanan (1920–2005) 9th Vice President and the 10th President of India
Source: "Speech By Shri Kocheril Raman Narayanan On His Assumption Of Office As President Of India"
Amir Taheri (1942) Iranian journalist
"Myths of our Afghanistan debate" http://nypost.com/2009/10/15/myths-of-our-afghanistan-debate/, New York Post (October 15, 2009). <br class="br">New York Post
Charles Krauthammer (1950–2018) American journalist
2010s, 2011, Are we alone in the universe? (2011)
George W. Bush (1946) 43rd President of the United States
2000s, 2003, Remarks on the Capture of Saddam Hussein (December 2003)
Nicolae Paulescu (1869–1931) Romanian academic
From Fiziologia Filozofică: Spitalul, Coranul, Talmudul, Cahalul, Franc-Masoneria ("Philosophic Physiology: The Hospital, the Koran, the Talmud, the Kahal and Freemasonry"), vol. II., Bucharest, 1913.
Henry Adams (1838–1918) journalist, historian, academic, novelist
Mont Saint Michel and Chartres (1904)
Kent Hovind (1953) American young Earth creationist
Creation seminars (2003-2005), The Garden of Eden
Plutarch book Parallel Lives
Gaius Marcius (Coriolanus) 14.2, translated by Ian Scott-Kilvert, Makers of Rome: Nine Lives by Plutarch (Harmondsworth : Penguin Books 1965) ISBN 0140441581, p. 27
Parallel Lives
Joseph Priestley book An History of the Corruptions of Christianity
General Conclusions, Part I : Containing Considerations addressed to Unbelievers and especially to Mr. Gibbon
An History of the Corruptions of Christianity (1782)
Paul of Tarsus book Epistle to the Romans
Romans 8:18-22 http://www.jw.org/en/publications/bible/nwt/books/romans/8/, NWT <br class="br">Epistle to the Romans
“How a good meaning
May be corrupted by a misconstruction.”
Thomas Middleton (1580–1627) English playwright and poet
The Old Law (1618-19).
James Monroe (1758–1831) American politician, 5th President of the United States (in office from 1817 to 1825)
First Inaugural Address http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/monroe1.asp (4 March 1817)
Donald J. Trump (1946) 45th President of the United States of America
2010s, 2016, January, Speech at Liberty University (18 January 2016)
Jean-Paul Marat (1743–1793) politician and journalist during the French Revolution
L'Ami du peuple, no.559 (1791-08-27)
John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) American politician, 6th president of the United States (in office from 1825 to 1829)
Diary entry (30 June 1841)
Thomas Chalmers (1780–1847) Scottish mathematician and a leader of the Free Church of Scotland
actually a quote from Voices of the Dead by John Cumming (1854) (p.8: The Speaking Dead)
Misattributed
William Arthur (minister) (1819–1901) Wesleyan Methodist minister and author
Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 191.
“A Government with Heart to protect victims of corruption, crime, and abuse.”
Francis Escudero (1969) Filipino politician
2015, Speech: Declaration as Vice Presidential Candidate
“Corruption is government intrusion into market efficiencies in the form of regulations.”
Milton Friedman (1912–2006) American economist, statistician, and writer
Frequently misattributed to Milton Friedman based on a monologue from the 2005 movie Syriana
Misattributed
John Ireland (bishop) (1838–1918) Catholic bishop
1894 speech on patriotism to Union veterans of the Civil War, [McClarey, Donald R, Father John Ireland and the Fifth Minnesota, The American Catholic, 2012-08-23, https://the-american-catholic.com/2012/08/23/father-john-ireland-and-the-fifth-minnesota/, 2018-02-04]
“We're going to have to retire the word mindfulness. It's been hopelessly corrupted in English.”
Ken McLeod (1948) Canadian lama
Money and Value http://www.unfetteredmind.org/money-value-life-4#sect6. Unfettered Mind http://www.unfetteredmind.org. (2007-12-02) (Topic: Practice)
Charles Hartshorne (1897–2000) Philosopher
Omnipotence and Other Theological Mistakes (1984)
Terry McAuliffe (1957) American businessman and politician
quoted on The Sunday Times, July 27, 2008.
Emma Goldman (1868–1940) anarchist known for her political activism, writing, and speeches
A New Declaration of Independence (1909)
Nicholas of Cusa book De concordantia catholica
De concordantia catholica (The Catholic Concordance) (1434)
Ricardo Sanchez (1953) United States Army Lieutenant General
Reporters and editors luncheon address (2007)
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1931–2015) 11th President of India, scientist and science administrator
Arvind Gupta, Mukul Chaturvedi, Akshay Joshi (2004) Security and Diplomacy: Essential Documents. p. 144.
Alan Moore (1953) English writer primarily known for his work in comic books
De Abaitua interview (1998)
Context: Organised religion has corrupted one of the purest, most powerful and sustaining things in the human condition. It has imposed a middle management, not only in our politics and in our finances, but in our spirituality as well. The difference between religion and magic is the same as what we were talking about earlier – I think you could map that over those two poles of fascism and anarchism. Magic is closer to anarchism.
Eric Hoffer (1898–1983) American philosopher
Source: The Ordeal of Change (1963), Ch. 15: "The Unnaturalness Of Human Nature"
Context: One should see the dominant role of the weak in shaping man's fate not as a perversion of natural instincts and vital impulses, but as the starting point of the deviation which led man to break away from, and rise above, nature — not as degeneration but as the generation of a new order of creation.
The corruption inherent in absolute power derives from the fact that such power is never free from the tendency to turn man into a thing, and press him back into the matrix of nature from which he has risen. For the impulse of power is to turn every variable into a constant, and give to commands the inexorableness and relentlessness of laws of nature. Hence absolute power corrupts even when exercised for humane purposes. The benevolent despot who sees himself as a shepherd of the people still demands from others the submissiveness of sheep. The taint inherent in absolute power is not its inhumanity but its anti-humanity.
Eric Hoffer (1898–1983) American philosopher
Source: The Ordeal of Change (1963), Ch. 2: "The Awakening of Asia" This passage uses phrases from his earlier work The Passionate State Of Mind, and Other Aphorisms (1955)
Context: It has often been said that power corrupts. But it is perhaps equally important to realize that weakness, too, corrupts. Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many. Hatred, malice, rudeness, intolerance, and suspicion are the faults of weakness. The resentment of the weak does not spring from any injustice done to them but from the sense of inadequacy and impotence. We cannot win the weak by sharing our wealth with them. They feel our generosity as oppression. St. Vincent De Paul cautioned his disciples to deport themselves so that the poor "will forgive them the bread you give them."
John Magufuli (1959) Tanzanian politician
The Citizen (newspaper), quoted Daily Maverick, "Tanzania: Hundred days later, what has Magufuli done?" http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-02-14-tanzania-hundred-days-later-what-has-magufuli-done/#.VtY1RfkrLrc, February 14, 2016. <br class="br">About
Barry Goldwater (1909–1998) American politician
Acceptance Speech http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/daily/may98/goldwaterspeech.htm as the Republican Presidential candidate, San Francisco (July 1964)<br>Unsourced variant: Now those who seek absolute power, even though they seek it to do what they regard as good, are simply demanding the right to enforce their own version of heaven on earth, and let me remind you they are the very ones who always create the most hellish tyranny. <br class="br">Context: Those who seek absolute power, even though they seek it to do what they regard as good, are simply demanding the right to enforce their own version of heaven on earth. And let me remind you, they are the very ones who always create the most hellish tyrannies. Absolute power does corrupt, and those who seek it must be suspect and must be opposed. Their mistaken course stems from false notions of equality, ladies and gentlemen. Equality, rightly understood, as our founding fathers understood it, leads to liberty and to the emancipation of creative differences. Wrongly understood, as it has been so tragically in our time, it leads first to conformity and then to despotism.
George F. Kennan (1904–2005) American advisor, diplomat, political scientist and historian
Lecture at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey (March 1954); published in “The Unifying Factor” in Realities of American Foreign Policy (1954), p. 116
Context: Now this problem of the adjustment of man to his natural resources, and the problem of how such things as industrialization and urbanization can be accepted without destroying the traditional values of a civilization and corrupting the inner vitality of its life — these things are not only the problems of America; they are the problems of men everywhere. To the extent that we Americans become able to show that we are aware of these problems, and that we are approaching them with coherent and effective ideas of our own which we have the courage to put into effect in our own lives, to that extent a new dimension will come into our relations with the peoples beyond our borders, to that extent, in fact, the dreams of these earlier generations of Americans who saw us as leaders and helpers to the peoples of the world at large will begin to take on flesh and reality.
Ellen Willis (1941–2006) writer, activist
"Tom Wolfe's Failed Optimism" (1977), Beginning To See the Light: Pieces of a Decade (1981)
Context: My education was dominated by modernist thinkers and artists who taught me that the supreme imperative was courage to face the awful truth, to scorn the soft-minded optimism of religious and secular romantics as well as the corrupt optimism of governments, advertisers, and mechanistic or manipulative revolutionaries. I learned that lesson well (though it came too late to wholly supplant certain critical opposing influences, like comic books and rock-and-roll). Yet the modernists’ once-subversive refusal to be gulled or lulled has long since degenerated into a ritual despair at least as corrupt, soft-minded, and cowardly — not to say smug — as the false cheer it replaced. The terms of the dialectic have reversed: now the subversive task is to affirm an authentic post-modernist optimism that gives full weight to existent horror and possible (or probable) apocalyptic disaster, yet insists — credibly — that we can, well, overcome. The catch is that you have to be an optimist (an American?) in the first place not to dismiss such a project as insane.
“What is a ruin but time easing itself of endurance? Corruption is the Age of Time.”
Djuna Barnes book Nightwood
Source: Nightwood (1936), Ch. 6 : Where the Tree Falls
Context: In the acceptance of depravity the sense of the past is most truly captured. What is a ruin but time easing itself of endurance? Corruption is the Age of Time.
George Long (1800–1879) English classical scholar
M. Aurelius Antoninus
Context: The last reflection of the Stoic philosophy that I have observed is in Simplicius' "Commentary on the Enchiridion of Epictetus." Simplicius was not a Christian, and such a man was not likely to be converted at a time when Christianity was grossly corrupted. But he was a really religious man, and he concludes his commentary with a prayer to the Deity which no Christian could improve.
“Capital is a coward. It flees from corruption and bad policies, conflict and unpredictability.”
Colin Powell (1937) Former U.S. Secretary of State and retired four-star general
As quoted by Ambassador Cameron R. Hume in a speech on U.S. Government Initiatives in South Africa http://pretoria.usembassy.gov/wwwhambhume020918.html at the American Chamber of Commerce, Johannesburg, South Africa (18 September 2002). <br class="br">2000s <br class="br">Context: Capital is a coward. It flees from corruption and bad policies, conflict and unpredictability. It shuns ignorance, disease and illiteracy. Capital goes where it is welcomed and where investors can be confident of a return on the resources they have put at risk. It goes to countries where women can work, children can read, and entrepreneurs can dream.
Patrick Modiano (1945) French writer
P 137
The Search Warrant (2000)
Context: I shall never know how she spent her days, where she hid, in whose company she passed the winter months of her first escape, or the few weeks of spring when she escaped for the second time. That is her secret. A poor and precious secret which not even the executioners the decrees, the occupying authorities, the Depot, the barracks, the camps, history, time – everything that corrupts and destroys you- have been able to take away from her.
Carl Sagan (1934–1996) American astrophysicist, cosmologist, author and science educator
Source: The Demon-Haunted World : Science as a Candle in the Dark (1995), Ch. 25 : Real Patriots Ask Questions
Context: When we consider the founders of our nation: Jefferson, Washington, Samuel and John Adams, Madison and Monroe, Benjamin Franklin, Tom Paine and many others; we have before us a list of at least ten and maybe even dozens of great political leaders. They were well educated. Products of the European Enlightenment, they were students of history. They knew human fallibility and weakness and corruptibility. They were fluent in the English language. They wrote their own speeches. They were realistic and practical, and at the same time motivated by high principles. They were not checking the pollsters on what to think this week. They knew what to think. They were comfortable with long-term thinking, planning even further ahead than the next election. They were self-sufficient, not requiring careers as politicians or lobbyists to make a living. They were able to bring out the best in us. They were interested in and, at least two of them, fluent in science. They attempted to set a course for the United States into the far future — not so much by establishing laws as by setting limits on what kinds of laws could be passed. The Constitution and its Bill of Rights have done remarkably well, constituting, despite human weaknesses, a machine able, more often than not, to correct its own trajectory. At that time, there were only about two and a half million citizens of the United States. Today there are about a hundred times more. So if there were ten people of the caliber of Thomas Jefferson then, there ought to be 10 x 100 = 1,000 Thomas Jefferson's today. Where are they?
Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) Indian spiritual philosopher
1960s, Freedom From The Known (1969)
Context: Man has throughout the ages been seeking something beyond himself, beyond material welfare — something we call truth or God or reality, a timeless state — something that cannot be disturbed by circumstances, by thought or by human corruption. Man has always asked the question: what is it all about? Has life any meaning at all? He sees the enormous confusion of life, the brutalities, the revolt, the wars, the endless divisions of religion, ideology and nationality, and with a sense of deep abiding frustration he asks, what is one to do, what is this thing we call living, is there anything beyond it?
Albert Pike book Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
Source: Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (1871), Ch. XXII : Grand Master Architect, p. 194
Context: To the impure, the dishonest, the false-hearted, the corrupt and the sensual, occasions come every day, and in every scene, and through every avenue of thought and imagination. He is prepared to capitulate before the first approach is commenced; and sends out the white flag when the enemy's advance comes in sight of his walls. He makes occasions; or, if opportunities come not, evil thoughts come, and he throws wide open the gates of his heart and welcomes those bad visitors, and entertains them with a lavish hospitality.
The business of the world absorbs, corrupts, and degrades one mind, while in another it feeds and nurses the noblest independency integrity, and generosity. Pleasure is a poison to some, and a healthful refreshment to others. To one. the world is a great harmony, like a noble strain of music with infinite modulations; to another, it is a huge factory, the clash and clang of whose machinery jars upon his ears and frets him to madness.
Nick Drake (poet) (1961) British writer
Source: The Rahotep series, Book 3: Egypt: The Book of Chaos (2011), Ch. 2
“Evil corrupts, Bael, by promising us what we want, and telling us that it is good.”
David Gemmell book Stormrider
Source: Rigante series, Stormrider, Ch. 13
Context: You think evil corrupts men by saying come with me and I will turn you into a merciless killer, and damn your soul for eternity? Who would agree to such a bargain? Evil corrupts, Bael, by promising us what we want, and telling us that it is good. Evil talks of the end justifying the means. It speaks of distant goals — aye, and of golden ages. It seduces, Bael. It does not threaten. Not at first.
David Gemmell book The Swords of Night and Day
Source: Drenai series, The Swords of Night and Day, Ch. 21
Context: "No golden age to discover now," he whispered. "No end to disease and starvation. No, bright sparkling cities reaching the clouds... All that I have lived for is gone now. I am so tired.""Then think on this, priest: You stopped the Eternal from finding greater weapons. Your actions here have led to her death. The world is free again.""Free? Of one tyrant perhaps. You think there will be no others?""No, I do not. But I know there will always be men to stand against them. You grieve because of a pure magic lost. That magic was corrupted by evil. This is how evil thrives. We find an herb that cures disease, and someone will make a poison from it. We forge iron to make a better plow, and someone will make a sharper sword. There can be no power that evil will not corrupt."
Erik H. Erikson book Gandhi's Truth
Gandhi's Truth : On the Origins of Militant Nonviolence (1969), Prologue : Echoes of an Event, p. 39
Context: All world-images are apt to become corrupt when left to ecclesiastic bureaucracies. But this does not make the formation of world-images expendable. And I can only repeat that we deny the remnants of old-world images at our own risk, because we do not overcome them by declaring them — with all the righteousness of skepticism — something of a secret sin. They are not less powerful for being denied.
Giordano Bruno (1548–1600) Italian philosopher, mathematician and astronomer
As translated by Paul Harrison <!-- Fifth dialogue ?-->
Cause, Principle, and Unity (1584)
Context: The Universe is one, infinite, immobile. The absolute potential is one, the act is one, the form or soul is one, the material or body is one, the thing is one, the being in one, one is the maximum and the best... It is not generated, because there is no other being it could desire or hope for, since it comprises all being. It does not grow corrupt. because there is nothing else into which it could change, given that it is itself all things. It cannot diminish or grow, since it is infinite.
Steven Erikson book Reaper's Gale
Reaper's Gale (2007)
Context: For Hood's sake,' the foreigner muttered. 'What's wrong with words?'
'With words,' said Redmask, turning away, 'meanings change.'
'Well,' Anaster Toc said, following as Redmask made his way back to his army's camp, 'that is precisely the point. That's their value — their ability to adapt -'
'Grow corrupt, you mean. The Letheri are masters at corrupting words, their meanings. They call war peace, they call tyranny liberty. On which side of the shadow you stand decides a word's meaning. Words are the weapons used by those who see others with contempt. A contempt which only deepens when they see how those others are deceived and made into fools because they choose to believe. Because in their naivety they thought the meaning of a word was fixed, immune to abuse.
Albert Jay Nock (1870–1945) American journalist
Free Speech and Plain Language (1936)
Context: I had a desultory talk with one devotee of expediency not long ago, a good friend and a thoroughly excellent man. He was all worked up over the activities of Communists and what he called pink Socialists, especially in the colleges and churches. He said they were corrupting the youth, and he was strong for having them coerced into silence. I could not see it that way. I told him it seemed pretty clear that Mr. Jefferson was right when he said that the effect of coercion was "to make one half the people fools and the other half hypocrites, and to support roguery and error all over the earth"; look at Germany and Italy! I thought our youth could manage to bear up under a little corrupting — they always have — and if they were corrupted by Communism, they stood a first-rate chance to get over it, whereas if they grew up fools or hypocrites, they would never get over it.
I added that Mr. Jefferson was right when he said that "it is error alone which needs the support of government; truth can stand by itself." One glance at governments anywhere in the world proves that. Well, then, the surest way to make our youth suspect that there may be something in Communism would be for the government to outlaw it.
John Leland (Baptist) (1754–1841) American Baptist minister
The Government of Christ a Christocracy (1804)
Context: The fondness of magistrates to foster Christianity, has done it more harm than all the persecutions ever did. Persecution, like a lion, tears the saints to death, but leaves Christianity pure: state establishment of religion, like a bear, hugs the saints, but corrupts Christianity, and reduces it to a level with state policy. (p. 278)
Felix Adler (1851–1933) German American professor of political and social ethics, rationalist, and lecturer
Founding Address (1876)
Context: The very names that ought to be held up as luminaries of honor have become bywords of villainy, and the foul stench of corruption fills our public offices. See how the Nation, in this the festal epoch of her marriage to Liberty, stands blackened with the crimes of her first dignitaries, and hides her head in shame before the nations!
John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America
1960, Address at Convention Hall, Philadelphia
Context: Finally, I believe in an America with a government of men devoted solely to the public interests — men of ability and dedication, free from conflict or corruption or other commitment — a responsible government that is efficient and economical, with a balanced budget over the years of the cycle, reducing its debt in prosperous times — a government willing to entrust the people with the facts that they have — not a businessman's government, with business in the saddle, as the late Secretary McKay described this administration of which he was a member — not a labor government, not a farmer's government, not a government of one section of the country or another, but a government of, for and by the people.
Wilfred Thesiger book Arabian Sands
Source: Arabian Sands (1959), p. 68.
Context: Yet I wondered fancifully if he had seen more clearly than they did, had sensed the threat which my presence implied – the approaching disintegration of his society and the destruction of his beliefs. Here especially it seemed that the evil that comes with sudden change would far outweigh the good. While I was with the Arabs I wished only to live as they lived and, now that I have left them, I would gladly think that nothing in their lives was altered by my coming. Regretfully, however, I realize that the maps I made helped others, with more material aims, to visit and corrupt a people whose spirit once lit the desert like a flame.
Elaine Dundy book Elvis and Gladys
Elvis and Gladys (1985), Ch. 5 : A Romance, p. 55
Context: What is always overlooked is that although the poor want to be rich, it does not follow that they either like the rich or that they in any way want to emulate their characters which, in fact, they despise. Both the poor and the rich have always found precisely the same grounds on which to complain about each other. Each feels the other has no manners, is disloyal, corrupt, insensitive — and has never put in an honest day's work in its life.
John Knox (1514–1572) Scottish clergyman, writer and historian
"Last Will and Testament" (May 1572); published in John Knox and John Knox's House (1905) by Charles John Guthrie
Context: None have I corrupted. None have I defrauded. Merchandise have I not made — to God's glory I write — of the glorious Evangel of Jesus Christ; but, according to the measure of the grace granted unto me, I have divided the Sermon of Truth in just parts, beating down the rebellion of the proud against God, and raising up the consciences troubled with the knowledge of their sins, by declaring Jesus Christ, the strength of His Death, and the mighty operation of His Resurrection, in the hearts of the Faithful. Of this, I say, I have a testimony this day in my conscience, before God, however the world rage.