--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole point about corruption in…" description: "\"“The whole point about corruption in politics is that it can't be done, or done properly, without a bipartisan consensus.”\" — Christopher Hitchens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/christopher-hitchens-117_bipartisanship_the-whole-point-about-corruption-in-poli_1993834.jpg" --- # The whole point about corruption in politics is that it… ![“The whole point about corruption in politics is that it can't be done, or done properly, without a bipartisan consensus.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/christopher-hitchens-117_bipartisanship_the-whole-point-about-corruption-in-poli_1993834.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/christopher-hitchens-117_bipartisanship_the-whole-point-about-corruption-in-poli_1993834.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/christopher-hitchens-117_bipartisanship_the-whole-point-about-corruption-in-poli_1993834.jpg) > ““The whole point about corruption in politics is that it can't be done, or done properly, without a bipartisan consensus.”” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Claims that political corruption inevitably involves bipartisan agreement, highlighting systemic failure. **In simple terms:** Corruption needs cross‑party collusion. Key Takeaway Demand transparency. Themes politics corruption bipartisanship ethics systemic Mood cynical analytical Type political critical When to use this quote - voting reform - policy advocacy - journalism Key Concepts power dynamics institutional failure public trust Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens hold parties accountable? - What reforms reduce bipartisan collusion? A Different Perspective May ignore lone corrupt actors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bipartisan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bipartisan/) [Bipartisanship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bipartisanship/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [It will be interesting to see if they accept the idea that not only actual corruption in politics needs to be addressed, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-noble/it-will-be-interesting-to-see-if-they-accept-the-idea-that-not-only/) Larry Noble > [For years, liberals have demonstrated a near religious devotion to the cause of 'cleaning up elections' with campaign finance reform, the wondrous panacea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-gregory/for-years-liberals-have-demonstrated-a-near-religious-devotion-to-the/) [Anthony Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-gregory/) > [The origin of corruption in politics is surely in the thought that you are the bearer of ultimate virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-w-powe/the-origin-of-corruption-in-politics-is-surely-in-the-thought-that/) [B. W. Powe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-w-powe/) > [For more than a half a century, we know that we prospered because of a bipartisan consensus on defense and foreign policy. We must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/for-more-than-a-half-a-century-we-know-that-we-prospered-because-of-a/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Everybody's always going to have some self-interest. When it passes a certain point, that's when it become corruption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zephyr-teachout/everybody-s-always-going-to-have-some-self-interest-when-it-passes-a/) [Zephyr Teachout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zephyr-teachout/) > [The two most frightening words in Washington are 'bipartisan consensus.' Bipartisan consensus is when my doctor and my lawyer agree with my wife that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-two-most-frightening-words-in-washington-are-bipartisan-consensus/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Research who your politicians are, even; know what they do, know who they're supported by legislatively, and know who is supporting them financially for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hogg/research-who-your-politicians-are-even-know-what-they-do-know-who/) [David Hogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hogg/) > [I believe that there is a bipartisan consensus to have individual mandates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-grassley/i-believe-that-there-is-a-bipartisan-consensus-to-have-individual/) [Chuck Grassley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-grassley/) > [Moderation and bipartisan consensus go hand in hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/moderation-and-bipartisan-consensus-go-hand-in-hand/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [I would say that just like corruption in politics; nepotism exists in Bollywood; there is no denying what is already there and it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prachi-desai/i-would-say-that-just-like-corruption-in-politics-nepotism-exists-in/) [Prachi Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prachi-desai/) > [We can build a bipartisan consensus on protecting the life of unborn children, especially when they begin to feel pain in the womb, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-youngkin/we-can-build-a-bipartisan-consensus-on-protecting-the-life-of-unborn/) [Glenn Youngkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-youngkin/) > [Corruption of politics has nothing to do with the morals, or the laxity of morals, of various political personalities. Its cause is altogether a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/corruption-of-politics-has-nothing-to-do-with-the-morals-or-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Wherever there is abuse there is also corruption. Politics, philosophy, theology, science, industry, any field with the potential to affect the well-being of others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/wherever-there-is-abuse-there-is-also-corruption-politics-philosophy/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [You can separate corruption from politics only when democracy becomes government of the people, for the people and by the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/you-can-separate-corruption-from-politics-only-when-democracy-becomes/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [The Arab world is full of corruption, in the time of the dictatorships and in the time of anarchy. This corruption is not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/the-arab-world-is-full-of-corruption-in-the-time-of-the-dictatorships/) [Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I worked out early on to give up things I couldn't do well at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-worked-out-early-on-to-give-up-things-i-couldn-t-do-well-at-all/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is what's important to me, and anything that helps me do that - or enhances and prolongs and deepens and sometimes intensifies argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/writing-is-what-s-important-to-me-and-anything-that-helps-me-do-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Explore all 1,241 Christopher Hitchens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More Bipartisan quotes > [When you hang the 'bipartisan' tag on something, the perception is that differences have been worked out, and there's a broad agreement that that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/when-you-hang-the-bipartisan-tag-on-something-the-perception-is-that/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [It's encouraging to watch bipartisan leaders from different states recognize the need for fair and rational legislation focused on creating second chances for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/it-s-encouraging-to-watch-bipartisan-leaders-from-different-states/) [Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/) > [What we need is a bipartisan commitment to improving the laws on the books, to lower premiums, to improve access and improve quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ossoff/what-we-need-is-a-bipartisan-commitment-to-improving-the-laws-on-the/) [Jon Ossoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ossoff/) > [We will build a Navy of 350 surface ships and submarines, as recommended by the bipartisan National Defense Panel. We right now only have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-build-a-navy-of-350-surface-ships-and-submarines-as/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [It's not just about talking. It's about - can you actually achieve objectives? I was very proud of what we were able to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-faulconer/it-s-not-just-about-talking-it-s-about-can-you-actually-achieve/) [Kevin Faulconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-faulconer/) > [I have also come to understand Congress' need for a bipartisan as well as a partisan capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-price/i-have-also-come-to-understand-congress-need-for-a-bipartisan-as-well/) [David Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-price/) > [When Americans are worried about losing their jobs, their savings, their homes and their chance at the American Dream, Congress and the president must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/when-americans-are-worried-about-losing-their-jobs-their-savings/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Mr. Speaker, for the last 5 years I have been working with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to make it illegal to continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-blumenauer/mr-speaker-for-the-last-5-years-i-have-been-working-with-a-bipartisan/) [Earl Blumenauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-blumenauer/) > [I welcome the Democrats' ideas on Social Security. I think it is very important to make a bipartisan reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kingston/i-welcome-the-democrats-ideas-on-social-security-i-think-it-is-very/) [Jack Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kingston/) > [I am long term optimistic and short term pessimistic on immigration. Long term, I'm optimistic because there's a lotta bipartisan agreement outside of Washington…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-am-long-term-optimistic-and-short-term-pessimistic-on-immigration/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I am now more sure than ever that we're going to have a bipartisan bill ... making incredible progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-diaz-balart/i-am-now-more-sure-than-ever-that-we-re-going-to-have-a-bipartisan/) [Mario Diaz-Balart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-diaz-balart/) > [Yesterday I, along with a bipartisan Congressional Delegation of lawmakers, inspected the detention facilities at Guantanamo used to house individuals detained in the War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ryun/yesterday-i-along-with-a-bipartisan-congressional-delegation-of/) [Jim Ryun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ryun/) > [We have neglected our aerospace program, and I am detecting a lot of bipartisan support to continue that mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-strange/we-have-neglected-our-aerospace-program-and-i-am-detecting-a-lot-of/) [Luther Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-strange/) > [“Pick a leader who will keep jobs in your country by offering companies incentives to hire only within their borders, not one who allows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/pick-a-leader-who-will-keep-jobs-in-your-country-by-offering/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [I think you'll find that these are measures that have great bipartisan support, and so I expect, not only did we do well in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-you-ll-find-that-these-are-measures-that-have-great/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) [Browse all 300 Bipartisan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bipartisan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The whole point about corruption in politics is that it can't be done, or done properly, without a bipartisan consensus.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Hitchens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-whole-point-about-corruption-in-politics-is-that-it-can-t-be-done/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bipartisan" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-whole-point-about-corruption-in-politics-is-that-it-can-t-be-done/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/christopher-hitchens-117_bipartisanship_the-whole-point-about-corruption-in-poli_1993834.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/christopher-hitchens-117_bipartisanship_the-whole-point-about-corruption-in-poli_1993834.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/christopher-hitchens-117_bipartisanship_the-whole-point-about-corruption-in-poli_1993834.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The whole point about corruption in politics is that it can't be done, or done properly, without a…” — Christopher Hitchens", "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": "Christopher Hitchens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The whole point about corruption in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-whole-point-about-corruption-in-politics-is-that-it-can-t-be-done/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-whole-point-about-corruption-in-politics-is-that-it-can-t-be-done/#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 } } ] } ```