--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One gift, one time--that's bribery. Lots…" description: "\"“One gift, one time--that's bribery. Lots of gifts over a long time--that's politics.''-- Roland Vanatua, from The Coup”\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/jamie-malanowski-108256_corruption_one-gift-one-time-that-s-bribery-lots-of_1622040.jpg" --- # One gift, one time--that's bribery. Lots of gifts over a… ![“One gift, one time--that's bribery. Lots of gifts over a long time--that's politics.''-- Roland Vanatua, from The Coup” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/jamie-malanowski-108256_corruption_one-gift-one-time-that-s-bribery-lots-of_1622040.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/jamie-malanowski-108256_corruption_one-gift-one-time-that-s-bribery-lots-of_1622040.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/jamie-malanowski-108256_corruption_one-gift-one-time-that-s-bribery-lots-of_1622040.jpg) > ““One gift, one time--that's bribery. Lots of gifts over a long time--that's politics.''-- Roland Vanatua, from The Coup”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distinguishes between small bribes and systemic political corruption **In simple terms:** One‑off gifts are bribery; repeated gifts become politics Key Takeaway Recognize and curb systemic corruption Themes corruption politics ethics gift‑giving Mood critical reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political campaigns - corporate lobbying - charitable donations Key Concepts moral decay power abuse public trust Questions to Reflect On - When does a gift become corruption? - How can societies limit political influence? A Different Perspective Not all repeated gifts are political; context matters ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bribery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bribery/) [Bribery Lots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bribery-lots-285812/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Politics Roland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-roland-285814/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Bribery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-bribery-285813/) [Vanatua Coup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanatua-coup-285811/) ## Related quotes > [A government with all this mass of favours to give or to withhold, however free in name, wields a power of bribery scarcely surpassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-government-with-all-this-mass-of-favours-to-give-or-to-withhold/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You have fallen badly, señor gringo. Bribery is a very serious crime in this country. You will have to pay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-fallen-badly-se-or-gringo-bribery-is-a-very-serious-crime-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every man has his price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-man-has-his-price/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do deeply deplore, of the sake of the cause, the prevalent notion, that the clergy must be had, either by persuasion or by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-deeply-deplore-of-the-sake-of-the-cause-the-prevalent-notion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Ah, bribery." He grinned at his niece. "is there anything it can't do?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-damico/ah-bribery-he-grinned-at-his-niece-is-there-anything-it-can-t-do/) [Gina Damico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-damico/) > [If a politician takes a bribe to do what he thinks would have been best for the public anyway, he still goes to jail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/if-a-politician-takes-a-bribe-to-do-what-he-thinks-would-have-been/) [George T. 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D. Kumaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-kumaraswamy/) > [They have seized upon the government by bribery and corruption. They have made speculation and public robbery a science. They have loaded the nation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/they-have-seized-upon-the-government-by-bribery-and-corruption-they/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [In the last few years, the very idea of telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is dredged up only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-musto/in-the-last-few-years-the-very-idea-of-telling-the-truth-the-whole/) [Michael Musto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-musto/) > [...when the laws have ceased to be executed, as this can only come from the corruption of the republic, the state is already lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-the-laws-have-ceased-to-be-executed-as-this-can-only-come-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the final analysis, the incident is seen as originating from an emotional expression of the frustration and anger of the proud people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-final-analysis-the-incident-is-seen-as-originating-from-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Living with such corruption becomes a suffocating way of life that saps confi dence and initiative”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/living-with-such-corruption-becomes-a-suffocating-way-of-life-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Bribery quotes > [In the last few years, the very idea of telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is dredged up only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-musto/in-the-last-few-years-the-very-idea-of-telling-the-truth-the-whole/) [Michael Musto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-musto/) > [“What did “good government” really mean? Langlie and his brotherhood promised an end to political corruption. (There’s no evidence that Langlie ever even took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sharlet/what-did-good-government-really-mean-langlie-and-his-brotherhood/) [Jeff Sharlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sharlet/) > [They have seized upon the government by bribery and corruption. They have made speculation and public robbery a science. They have loaded the nation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/they-have-seized-upon-the-government-by-bribery-and-corruption-they/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [It was the BJP that betrayed me when one of its members made the Rs 150-crore bribery allegation against me without evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-kumaraswamy/it-was-the-bjp-that-betrayed-me-when-one-of-its-members-made-the-rs/) [H. D. Kumaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-kumaraswamy/) > [Rather than let their product compete fully and fairly in the marketplace, FalconStor resorted to bribery and graft to win important contracts in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynch/rather-than-let-their-product-compete-fully-and-fairly-in-the/) [Loretta Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynch/) > [“Bribery quickly became an integral part of the Russian way of doing business, and the expense of buying a government official was considered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-satter/bribery-quickly-became-an-integral-part-of-the-russian-way-of-doing/) [David Satter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-satter/) > [Tis gold Which buys admittance--oft it doth--yea, and makes Diana's rangers false themselves, yield up This deer to th' stand o' th' stealer: and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/tis-gold-which-buys-admittance-oft-it-doth-yea-and-makes-diana-s/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [We meant to temporarily disable her," Ian said. "Just a drop. But Natalie slipped during air turbulence. Before we could warn your nose-ringed nanny,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lerangis/we-meant-to-temporarily-disable-her-ian-said-just-a-drop-but-natalie/) [Peter Lerangis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lerangis/) > [Laws are a fine thing on paper, but painful when no bribery can ease their bind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/laws-are-a-fine-thing-on-paper-but-painful-when-no-bribery-can-ease/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [“You have fallen badly, señor gringo. Bribery is a very serious crime in this country. You will have to pay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-fallen-badly-se-or-gringo-bribery-is-a-very-serious-crime-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A government with all this mass of favours to give or to withhold, however free in name, wields a power of bribery scarcely surpassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-government-with-all-this-mass-of-favours-to-give-or-to-withhold/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To the goats, all people are equal, except for those who have treats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-tidbeck/to-the-goats-all-people-are-equal-except-for-those-who-have-treats/) [Karin Tidbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-tidbeck/) > [Petitions, not sweetened with gold, are but unsavory and oft refused; or, if received, are pocketed, not read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-massinger/petitions-not-sweetened-with-gold-are-but-unsavory-and-oft-refused-or/) [Philip Massinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-massinger/) > [If a politician takes a bribe to do what he thinks would have been best for the public anyway, he still goes to jail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/if-a-politician-takes-a-bribe-to-do-what-he-thinks-would-have-been/) [George T. Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/) > [“Ah, bribery." He grinned at his niece. "is there anything it can't do?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-damico/ah-bribery-he-grinned-at-his-niece-is-there-anything-it-can-t-do/) [Gina Damico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-damico/) [Browse all 94 Bribery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bribery/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One gift, one time--that's bribery. 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