--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At length corruption, like a general…" description: "\"At length corruption, like a general flood (So long by watchful ministers withstood), Shall deluge all; and avarice, creeping on, Spread like a low-bor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/alexander-pope-235_avarice_at-length-corruption-like-a-general-floo_2112061.png" --- # At length corruption, like a general flood (So long by… ![“At length corruption, like a general flood (So long by watchful ministers withstood), Shall deluge all; and avarice, creeping on, Spread like a low-born mist, and blot the sun.” quote by Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/alexander-pope-235_avarice_at-length-corruption-like-a-general-floo_2112061.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/alexander-pope-235_avarice_at-length-corruption-like-a-general-floo_2112061.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/alexander-pope-235_avarice_at-length-corruption-like-a-general-floo_2112061.png) > “At length corruption, like a general flood (So long by watchful ministers withstood), Shall deluge all; and avarice, creeping on, Spread like a low-born mist, and blot the sun.” [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Corruption spreads like flood and mist, darkening truth and justice. **In simple terms:** Corruption spreads, obscuring truth. Key Takeaway Guard against moral decay. Themes corruption power justice Mood somber serious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - political analysis - ethical training - public policy debates Key Concepts flood metaphor moral decay Questions to Reflect On - What fuels societal corruption? - How can vigilance prevent it? A Different Perspective Might underestimate individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avarice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Corruption Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption-like-1498079/) [Deluge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deluge/) [Deluge Avarice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deluge-avarice-4269215/) [Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flood/) [Flood Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flood-long-4269214/) [Length](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/length/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [Ministers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ministers/) [Mist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mist/) [Shall Deluge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-deluge-4269213/) [Spread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spread/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) ## Related quotes > [Private fortunes, in the present state of our circulation, are at the mercy of those self-created money lenders, and are prostrated by the floods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/private-fortunes-in-the-present-state-of-our-circulation-are-at-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Corruption is like 2013...fake and gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2012/corruption-is-like-2013-fake-and-gay/) [2012](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2012/) > [There is something in corruption which, like a jaundiced eye, transfers the color of itself to the object it looks upon, and sees everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/there-is-something-in-corruption-which-like-a-jaundiced-eye-transfers/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Corruption is like a ball of snow, once it's set a rolling it must increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/corruption-is-like-a-ball-of-snow-once-it-s-set-a-rolling-it-must/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [No matter how much evidence we uncover about this case or any others involving Mr. Clinton, millions of Americans simply will not care -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/no-matter-how-much-evidence-we-uncover-about-this-case-or-any-others/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [The character of covetousness, is what a man generally acquires more through some niggardliness or ill grace in little and inconsiderable things, than in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-character-of-covetousness-is-what-a-man-generally-acquires-more/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Be niggards of advice on no pretense; For the worst avarice is that of sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/be-niggards-of-advice-on-no-pretense-for-the-worst-avarice-is-that-of/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Every gazette brings accounts of the untutored freaks of the wind,--shipwrecks and hurricanes which the mariner and planter acceptas special or general providences; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/every-gazette-brings-accounts-of-the-untutored-freaks-of-the-wind/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [May 8th 1943. Deluge. The rain not only fell mainly on the plain in Spain; it also fell mainly on the back of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/may-8th-1943-deluge-the-rain-not-only-fell-mainly-on-the-plain-in/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [“One would have supposed that the remembrance of the deluge would have been transmitted from father to son, and have perpetually deterred mankind from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/one-would-have-supposed-that-the-remembrance-of-the-deluge-would-have/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [I feel like someone after a deluge being asked to describe the way it was before the flood while I'm still plucking seaweed out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rush/i-feel-like-someone-after-a-deluge-being-asked-to-describe-the-way-it/) [Norman Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rush/) > [In the Great Deluge in the days of Noah, nearly all mankind perished, eight persons alone being saved in the Ark. In our days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/in-the-great-deluge-in-the-days-of-noah-nearly-all-mankind-perished/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [“They looked so familiar that for a moment Claude feared he had doubled back to Mrs. Merritt's city, until a sudden wave of water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-woolf/they-looked-so-familiar-that-for-a-moment-claude-feared-he-had/) [Douglas Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-woolf/) > [There is not a soul on Earth who can read the deluge of physics publications in its entirety. As a result, it is sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-pais/there-is-not-a-soul-on-earth-who-can-read-the-deluge-of-physics/) [Abraham Pais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-pais/) > [“Her beauty is a deluge washing my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-diedrich/her-beauty-is-a-deluge-washing-my-soul/) [Kirk Diedrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-diedrich/) ## More by Alexander Pope > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart; To make mankind, in conscious virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-wake-the-soul-by-tender-strokes-of-art-to-raise-the-genius-and-to/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [A mighty maze! But not without a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-mighty-maze-but-not-without-a-plan/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-such-teach-others-who-themselves-excel-and-censure-freely-who/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/like-following-life-through-creatures-you-dissect-you-lose-it-in-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-labour-d-nothings-in-so-strange-a-style-amaze-th-unlearn-d-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [She went from opera, park, assembly, play, To morning walks, and prayers three hours a day. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-went-from-opera-park-assembly-play-to-morning-walks-and-prayers/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-am-satisfied-to-trifle-away-my-time-rather-than-let-it-stick-by-me/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-greatest-advantage-i-know-of-being-thought-a-wit-by-the-world-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Then say not Man's imperfect,Heav'n in fault; Say rather, Man's as perfect ashe ought:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/then-say-not-man-s-imperfect-heav-n-in-fault-say-rather-man-s-as/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still the same: Unerring nature, still divinely bright, One clear, unchanged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/first-follow-nature-and-your-judgment-frame-by-her-just-standard/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Who shall decide when doctors disagree, And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/who-shall-decide-when-doctors-disagree-and-soundest-casuists-doubt/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) [Explore all 850 Alexander Pope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## More Avarice quotes > [In our own time the whole of Greece has been subject to a low birth rate and a general decrease of the population, owing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/in-our-own-time-the-whole-of-greece-has-been-subject-to-a-low-birth/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [avarice breeds envy, a worm that is always gnawing, letting the avaricious enjoy neither their own nor anyone else's good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/avarice-breeds-envy-a-worm-that-is-always-gnawing-letting-the/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [The man who worships mere wealth is a snob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-man-who-worships-mere-wealth-is-a-snob/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Where today are the Pequot? Where are the Narragansett, the Mohican, the Pcanet, and other powerful tribes of our people? They have vanished before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecumseh/where-today-are-the-pequot-where-are-the-narragansett-the-mohican-the/) [Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Where poverty ceases, avarice begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/where-poverty-ceases-avarice-begins/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Five enemies of peace inhabit with us - avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/five-enemies-of-peace-inhabit-with-us-avarice-ambition-envy-anger-and/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > ['Maneater' is about N.Y.C. in the '80s. It's about greed, avarice, and spoiled riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oates/maneater-is-about-n-y-c-in-the-80s-it-s-about-greed-avarice-and/) [John Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oates/) > [A woman's whole life is a history of the affections. The heart is her world: it is there her ambition strives for empire; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-woman-s-whole-life-is-a-history-of-the-affections-the-heart-is-her/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-control-unchastity-by-desire-for/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [Riches with their wicked inducements increase; nevertheless, avarice is never satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/riches-with-their-wicked-inducements-increase-nevertheless-avarice-is/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [When virtue is banished, ambition invades the minds of those who are disposed to receive it and avarice possesses the whole community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-virtue-is-banished-ambition-invades-the-minds-of-those-who-are/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [He who is always in a hurry to be wealthy and immersed in the study of augmenting his fortune has lost the arms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/he-who-is-always-in-a-hurry-to-be-wealthy-and-immersed-in-the-study/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Goodness is weakness, pleasantness is poisonous, serenity is mediocrity and kindness is for losers. The best reason for committing loathsome and detestable acts –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/goodness-is-weakness-pleasantness-is-poisonous-serenity-is-mediocrity/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) [Browse all 318 Avarice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At length corruption, like a general flood (So long by watchful ministers withstood), Shall deluge all; and avarice, creeping on, Spread like a low-born mist, and blot the sun.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Pope" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/at-length-corruption-like-a-general-flood-so-long-by-watchful/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Avarice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/at-length-corruption-like-a-general-flood-so-long-by-watchful/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/alexander-pope-235_avarice_at-length-corruption-like-a-general-floo_2112061.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/alexander-pope-235_avarice_at-length-corruption-like-a-general-floo_2112061.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/alexander-pope-235_avarice_at-length-corruption-like-a-general-floo_2112061.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At length corruption, like a general flood (So long by watchful ministers withstood), Shall deluge all; and…” — Alexander Pope", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexander Pope", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "At length corruption, like a general...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/at-length-corruption-like-a-general-flood-so-long-by-watchful/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/at-length-corruption-like-a-general-flood-so-long-by-watchful/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```