Avarice Quote by Antonella Gambotto-Burke
““Corruption,' Jordan Belfort believes, 'is endemic to human being. I mean, even men in monasteries - where enticement is hard to come by – even men in those circumstances have sex with other men and abuse children. Look at the Catholic Church! Man is an imperfect animal and he is corruptible, okay? And in finance, the liquid nature of the market makes corruption very easy. On Wall Street, this liquidity is so in your face -' he suddenly grits his teeth - 'that if you have even the slightest predisposition to the dark side, you become corrupted. In addition to which, those attracted to Wall Street have a predisposition to greed.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Wolf of Wall Street, 2013
Corruption is a universal human flaw, amplified by environments like finance that reward greed and ease of illicit gain.
In simple terms: Everyone can be corrupt, especially where money and power are fluid.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and guard against personal greed.
Themes
corruption
human nature
finance
ethics
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- Wall Street trading
- corporate leadership
- political lobbying
Key Concepts
Moral philosophy
behavioral economics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does financial liquidity influence ethical decisions?
- Can institutions mitigate inherent greed?
A Different Perspective
Corruption also stems from systemic pressures, not just individual choice.
