Officials Quotes

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.

When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes.

We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.

The arbitrary rule of a just and enlightened prince is always bad. His virtues are the most dangerous and the surest form of seduction: they lull a people imperceptibly into the habit of loving, respecting, and serving his successor, whoever that successor may be, no matter how wicked or stupid.

All governments lie, but disaster lies in wait for countries whose officials smoke the same hashish they give out.

He who is unfit to serve his fellow citizens wants to rule them.

A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth.

In Mafia states government officials enrich themselves and their families and friends while exploiting the money, muscle, political influence, and global connections of criminal syndicates to cement and expand their own power…Top positions in some of the world’s most profitable illicit enterprises are no longer filled only by professional criminals; they now include senior government officials, legislators, spy chiefs, heads of police departments, military officers, and, in some extreme cases, even heads of state and their families.

Occupants of public offices love power and are prone to abuse it.

Markets are smart and governments are dumb.

I live in the Managerial Age, in a world of "Admin." The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid "dens of crime" that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern.

One of the best magistrates as minister, and a good sharp thief-taker for [foreign] secretary

Democracy has shown us that what is evil are the grosses têtes, the big heads, all big heads are greedy for money and power, they are ambitious that is the reason they are big heads and so they are at the head of the government and the result is misery for the people

If our political positions were dominated by women, things might be different.

He [the king] must also appoint other officials, men of integrity, who are wise, firm, well able to collect money, and well tried.

Find the corrupt officials and then prosecute them and send them to prison!

To be free in an age like ours, one must be in a position of authority.

Justice is the first virtue of those who command, and stops the complaints of those who obey.

Sex scandals, while embarrassing, are far less depressing than financial corruption. I would way rather have an important elected official who patronized prostitutes than one who spent $60,000 of the taxpayers’ money on sushi and lobster.

The administration of government, like a guardianship ought to be directed to the good of those who confer, not to those who receive the trust.

Meanwhile, the Bush dynasty comes to an official end.

We may define a republic to be … a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure for a limited period, or during good behavior.

Politicians of all stripes are always in danger at looking at every problem from an abstract point of view or being briefed by officials, academics, or economists who know every science but the science of human nature.

Whenever a Christian has a dispute with a heathen, no matter what the subject in question may be, the quarrel is promptly taken up by the priest, who if he cannot himself intimidate the local officials and compel them to give right to the Christian, represents the case as one of persecution when … it is appealed. Then is redress rigorously extorted, without the least reference to the justice of the demand.