They had been corrupted by money, and he had been…
“They had been corrupted by money, and he had been corrupted by sentiment. Sentiment was the more dangerous, because you couldn’t name its price. A man open to bribes was to be relied upon below a certain figure, but sentiment might uncoil in the heart at a name, a photograph, even a smell remembered.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Money corrupts openly; sentiment corrupts silently, harder to quantify and more dangerous.
In simple terms: Sentiment corrupts quietly, harder to price.
Key Takeaway
Beware hidden emotional influences.
Themes
corruption
money
sentiment
ethics
Mood
cautionary
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- political intrigue
- personal relationships
- legal decisions
- financial dealings
Key Concepts
moral ambiguity
human vulnerability
Questions to Reflect On
- What unseen sentiments guide you?
- How to price emotional influence?
A Different Perspective
Sentiment can be manipulated unknowingly.