P. J. O'Rourke Quotes

I felt like they only cared about what I could do for them, not what they could do for me.

Being an economist is the least ethical profession, closer to charlatanism than any science.

There will always be cheaters. It is human nature. It will never be 100 percent clean, in any sport.

Banking was conceived in iniquity and born in sin.

The economic game is not supposed to be rigged like some shady ring toss on a carnival midway.

Consequently it will often happen there will be a desire of particular objects, in cases where they cannot be obtained without manifest injury to others.

Business should never be allowed to justify mean, thug ugly deals for any reason.

The inherent corruption of man can often bring down the best system.

The diplomat holds all acts honorable which bring him success, all things are righteous which serve his ends. If cheating is necessary, he will cheat; if lying is useful, he will lie; if bribery helps, he will bribe; if murder serves, he will order murder; if burglary, seduction, arson or forgery brings success nearer, all and each of these will be done.

It's them that take advantage that get advantage in this world.

Corruption is a punitive tax on those who can least afford it.

… as a rule capitalists and entrepreneurs are not saints excelling in the virtue of self-denial. But neither are their critics saintly.

We had people who obviously didn’t have, necessarily, my best interest in mind… A lot of money was made, and a lot of advantage was taken.

Donald Trump is a fraud. Listening to him talk about how he's going to put American first again, he's spent his entire career putting his own profits first.

Whenever there is money, power, and titles involved, players are going to be corrupt. That might be a political statement, but that's what it is for the athletes, too.

If you cash in on people, then they aren't your friends.

You should not be taking advantage of anybody.

You should never bury someone to forward your own personal interest. And I would never do that to anyone else on the planet.

So, that’s what they wanted: lies. Beautiful lies. That’s what they needed. People were fools. It was going to be easy for me.

If you know how to cheat, start now.

I would not take one cup of coffee from a grower...There's not a good one. I hate them. A few presents, a little talk, then the noose. That's how capitalism works.

When under the pretext of fraternity, the legal code imposes mutual sacrifices on the citizens, human nature is not thereby abrogated. Everyone will then direct his efforts toward contributing little to, and taking much from, the common fund of sacrifices. Now, is it the most unfortunate who gains from this struggle? Certainly not, but rather the most influential and calculating.

Fraud is the ready minister of injustice.

The most that can be said of flattery is that it is sometimes a cheap psychological trick with which charlatans and dishonest people lull others into a state of carelessness while they pick their pockets.

The system shaves the dice on the side of those with money and power, and anyone who believes otherwise deserves anything that happens to him.