Frederick the Great Quotes

Nigeria must be one of the very few countries in the world where a man’s source of wealth is of no concern to his neighbors, the public or the government. Once a man is able to dole out money, the churches pray for him, he collects chieftancy titles and hobnobs with those who govern. The message to those who have not made it is clear: just be rich, the ways and means are irrelevant

Water does tend to flow up hill toward money and power.

…luxury is the result of wealth, or it makes wealth necessary. It corrupts both rich and poor, the one by possessing, the other by coveting. It sells out the fatherland to indolence and vanity; it deprives the State of all its Citizens by enslaving some of them to others and all of them to opinion.

He that fails in his endeavors after wealth or power will not long retain either honesty or courage.

The unending chase for money, I believe, threatens to steal our democracy itself. I've used the word 'corrupting,' and I want to be very clear about it: I mean by it not the corruption of individuals, but a corruption of a system itself that all of us are forced to participate in against our will.

I understand politicos gotta make bank. But cloistering with the Hollywood elite is not how you prove you're a man of the people.

With the people, for the people, by the people. I crack up when I hear it; I say, with the handful, for the handful, by the handful, cause that's what really happens.

By gold all good faith has been banished; by gold our rights are abused; the law itself is influenced by gold, and soon there will be an end of every modest restraint.

Money is the worst currency that ever grew among mankind. This sacks cities, this drives men from their homes, this teaches and corrupts the worthiest minds to turn base deeds.

The statesman shears the sheep; the politician skins them.

The dirty little secret on Wall Street: Eighty percent of the Wall Street executives' and their spouses' donations go to Democrats. It's like they've got some kind of little sweet deal, where we'll call you fat cats and demean you and stuff, but you will get richer than your wildest dreams.

It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power.

Well, purity - there's no purity in politics.

Most people who get into power in the western world start with great intentions, but slowly they all become entrapped and hung by their own petard.

Anger is wonderful. It keeps you going. I'm angry about bankers. About the government.

Law has become a business. Health care has become a business. Unfortunately, politics has also become a business. That really undermines society.

Most governments do have inbuilt biases in favour of the rich and powerful, and most do contain plenty of manipulators who love intrigue, who have lost whatever moral compass they may once have had and who protect themselves with steely cynicism.

True generosity is too frequently eaten up by prosperity and riches.

No new state is ever fully ready for independence ..

Civilizations do not collapse because the citizenry are corrupt or lazy or anti-intellectual. These people do not have the power and influence to either lead or destroy. Civilizations collapse when those who have power fail to do their jobs.

This place is being corrupted by money. Anyone who does not believe this is not living on this planet…. Anybody with their eyes open knows that we have a problem.

A minister’s family will expect him to do things that are impossible on a minister’s salary; they make spurious demands such as expecting them to buy a new car or take them on trips. Where does the money come from? When an honest aspirant for public office comes along, his village and his family will say, ‘No, not that one because he won’t eat and he won’t let us eat.’

Oligarchy is to the advantage of the rich. Democracy to the advantage of the poor.

Money distorts the democratic process in a fundamental way.

In a well-governed nation poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a badly governed country wealth is something to be ashamed of.