Misuse of Authority Quotes

Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.

There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice.

The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.

It is weakness rather than wickedness which renders men unfit to be trusted with unlimited power.

Power without responsibility, the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages.

Tyranny, Is far the worst of treasons. Dost thou deem None rebels except subjects? The prince who Neglects or violates his trust is more A brigand than the robber-chief.

Unlimited power corrupts the possessor.

When the legislature is corrupted, the people are undone.

Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who posses it; and this I know, my lords: that where law ends, tyranny begins.

As far as the opposition to Jayalalitha was concerned, it was that she was misusing authority for personal corruption, denying people their liberties, attacking the opposition with violence, and there was nobody who could challenge her.

Nothing corrupts a man so much as being an arm of the law and making men suffer.

The perversions are as follows: of royalty, tyranny; of aristocracy, oligarchy; of constitutional government, democracy.

Power tends to corrupt if you're there too long.

Absolute power should never be trusted to man. It has perverted the wisest heads, and corrupted the best hearts in the world. I should be afraid to commit my property, liberty and life to a body of angels for one whole year.

The public will never be made to believe that an appointment of a relative is ever made on the ground of merit alone, uninfluenced by family views; nor can they ever see with approbation offices, the disposal of which they entrust to their Presidents for public purposes, divided out as family property. Mr. [John] Adams degraded himself infinitely by his conduct on this subject, as General Washington had done himself the highest honor.

All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.

Those carried away by power are soon carried away.

He is violating his oath of office.

Those who have the power and should be the most responsible are often the least responsible.

The temptation to misuse public policy is almost irresistible.

I had enabled the development of a corrupt system right under my very eyes..

Tis a Mistake to think this Fault [tyranny] is proper only to Monarchies; other Forms of Government are liable to it, as well as that. For where-ever the Power that is put in any hands for the Government of the People, and the Preservation of their Properties, is applied to other ends, and made use of to impoverish, harass, or subdue them to the Arbitrary and Irregular Commands of those that have it: There it presently becomes Tyranny, whether those that thus use it are one or many.

Security is like liberty in that many are the crimes committed in its name.

Politicians will only exploit you for nothing.

The will of the nation" is one of those expressions which have been most profusely abused by the wily and the despotic of every age.