Wyndham Lewis Quotes

dangerous demagogue corrupt pervert, prostitute, debauch cursed.

A political organization is a transferable commodity. You could not find a better way of killing virtue than by packing it into one of these contraptions which some gang of thieves is sure to find useful.

Power is always a corrupting influence.

For his own sordid ends The pulpit he ascends

Power is always dangerous. It attracts the worst and corrupts the best..

Corruption is just another form of tyranny.

Innocence is thought charming because it offers delightful possibilities for exploitation.

But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.

I believe the root of all evil is abuse of power.

Wherever there is interest and power to do wrong, wrong will generally be done.

Moral crusade: Public activity undertaken by middle-aged men who are cheating on their wives or diddling little boys. Moral crusades are particularly popular among those seeking power for their own personal pleasure, politicians who can't think of anything useful to do with their mandates, and religious professionals suffering from a personal inability to communicate with their god.

[A] privilege takes flight when abused.

… the tools of despotism and corruption

When I reflect on the pompous titles bestowed on unworthy men, I feel an indignity that instructs me to despise the absurdity. The Honourable plunderer of his country, or the Right Honourable murderer of mankind, create such a contrast of ideas as exhibit a monster rather than a man. Virtue is inflamed at the violation, and sober reason calls it nonsense.

The temptation to misuse public policy is almost irresistible.

Yes, SIRE, you are being misled, the goodwill of princes is being abused; even the Nobility itself is in the wrong.

I have also been touched by the dark side of power and leadership.

Abuse of power comes as no surprise

And you know, almost in a perverse way, I wish it had been undue influence because we know how to correct that. We get rid of the people who, in fact, were exercising that.

There are three things in the world that deserve no mercy, hypocrisy, fraud, and tyranny.

Men of authority have employed all the destructive agents around them to promote their own personal interests at the sacrifice of every just, honorable, and lawful consideration.

Unlimited power corrupts the possessor.

Then there is the worst part of Christianity, which is awful: power, corruption, manipulation... But then again, these feature are ever present in any organization.

For there is no defense for a man who, in the excess of his wealth, has kicked the great altar of Justice out of sight.

Power has long been regarded as morally corrosive, and we often suspect the intentions of those who seek it.