Corruption of politics has nothing to do with the morals, or the laxity of morals, of various political personalities. Its cause is altogether a material one.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Political corruption is caused by material conditions, not the personal morality of politicians.
- In plain terms
- Politics is corrupt because of money and systems, not because politicians are bad people.
- What can you take from it?
- Fix systems and resources to reduce political corruption.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What causes political corruption?
- Is corruption systemic or individual?
Another view
It ignores cases where individual greed drives corruption regardless of material conditions.
More from Emma Goldman
Before we can forgive one another, we have to understand one another.
Permalink to quote #49 Crime is naught but misdirected energy.
Permalink to quote #51 Anarchism is the only philosophy which brings to man the consciousness of himself; which maintains that God, the State, and society are non-existent, that thei…
Permalink to quote #48
Related quotes
The government is well aware of the dangers of corruption, and I call on everybody to take measures to implement this program and fight this phenomenon.
Andranik MargaryanAndranik Margaryan quote #4 'Good governance is also about rooting out corruption, which is a stain on the integrity of any nation.'
Laisenia QaraseLaisenia Qarase quote #4 'Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat.'
John LehmanJohn Lehman quote #5