--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They have seized upon the government by…" description: "\"They have seized upon the government by bribery and corruption. They have made speculation and public robbery a science. They have loaded the nation, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/902/denis-kearney-32356_bribery_they-have-seized-upon-the-government-by_59642.png" --- # They have seized upon the government by bribery and… ![“They have seized upon the government by bribery and corruption. They have made speculation and public robbery a science. They have loaded the nation, the state, the county, and the city with debt.” quote by Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/902/denis-kearney-32356_bribery_they-have-seized-upon-the-government-by_59642.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/902/denis-kearney-32356_bribery_they-have-seized-upon-the-government-by_59642.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/902/denis-kearney-32356_bribery_they-have-seized-upon-the-government-by_59642.png) > “They have seized upon the government by bribery and corruption. They have made speculation and public robbery a science. They have loaded the nation, the state, the county, and the city with debt.” [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote condemns the exploitation of public power for private gain, describing how corrupt officials turn governance into a profit‑driven enterprise that burdens society with debt. **In simple terms:** Corruption turns governance into a profit‑driven Key Takeaway Corruption creates systemic debt Themes corruption political economy public finance ethics social injustice Mood cynical alarmist critical Type political warning critique When to use this quote - government budgeting - policy reform debates - citizen activism - media investigations - academic analysis Key Concepts public debt bribery speculation state capture Practical Applications - anti‑corruption legislation - civic education campaigns Questions to Reflect On - How does systemic corruption erode public trust? - What mechanisms can prevent debt accumulation from misuse of power? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bribery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bribery/) [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Loaded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loaded/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Robbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robbery/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Speculation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speculation/) ## Related quotes > [One of the biggest curses from which India is suffering - I do not say that other countries are free from it, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/one-of-the-biggest-curses-from-which-india-is-suffering-i-do-not-say/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [It is a great mistake to suppose that bribery and corruption, although they may be very convenient for gratifying the ambition or the vanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-suppose-that-bribery-and-corruption-although/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Everyone at work asks you to bribery, corruption is everywhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/everyone-at-work-asks-you-to-bribery-corruption-is-everywhere/) Mak\_786 > [They have seized upon the government by bribery and corruption (armed robbery). They have made speculation and public robbery a science. They have loaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zahradeen/they-have-seized-upon-the-government-by-bribery-and-corruption-armed/) [Zahradeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zahradeen/) > [We will never hear about people's Bitcoin accounts being frozen or seized by a government agency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ver/we-will-never-hear-about-people-s-bitcoin-accounts-being-frozen-or/) [Roger Ver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ver/) > [Since entering the new century, China and Africa have seized the historic opportunities presented by the deepening of globalization, worked together and helped each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-keqiang/since-entering-the-new-century-china-and-africa-have-seized-the/) [Li Keqiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-keqiang/) > [I logged into my bank accounts, and they were all seized, all frozen. So that was a pretty clear indication that I was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-bloom/i-logged-into-my-bank-accounts-and-they-were-all-seized-all-frozen-so/) [Molly Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-bloom/) > [“A wandering knight wambling in an endless road Thinking to himself Where the others are? Taking care of what? Who am I? but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rixa-white/a-wandering-knight-wambling-in-an-endless-road-thinking-to-himself/) [Rixa White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rixa-white/) > [I have been seized by the power of a great affection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/i-have-been-seized-by-the-power-of-a-great-affection/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [I was fourteen when Kissinger made his secret trip to China, and then there was subsequently Nixon's trip to China, and I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pomfret/i-was-fourteen-when-kissinger-made-his-secret-trip-to-china-and-then/) [John Pomfret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pomfret/) > [“Ministry seized an illegal Time-Turner from Theodore Nott and has kept it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tiffany/ministry-seized-an-illegal-time-turner-from-theodore-nott-and-has/) [John Tiffany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tiffany/) > [I was in Shanghai when the Japanese invaded China. I was there in Shanghai when, the morning after Pearl Harbor, they seized Shanghai.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard/i-was-in-shanghai-when-the-japanese-invaded-china-i-was-there-in/) [J. G. Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-ballard/) > [ “\[Pierre\] was seized by terror lest he had aready in some way bound himself to do something that was evidently wrong, and that he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tolstoy-leo/pierre-was-seized-by-terror-lest-he-had-aready-in-some-way-bound/) Tolstoy, Leo > [Social gains are never handed out. They must be seized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/social-gains-are-never-handed-out-they-must-be-seized/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [“He had already seized this particular day once, but he was prepared, if need be, to go ahead and seize the motherfucker all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/he-had-already-seized-this-particular-day-once-but-he-was-prepared-if/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) ## More by Denis Kearney > [They have stolen the public lands. They have grasped all to themselves, and by their unprincipled greed brought a crisis of unparalleled distress on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/they-have-stolen-the-public-lands-they-have-grasped-all-to-themselves/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [Our moneyed men have ruled us for the past thirty years. Under the flag of the slaveholder they hoped to destroy our liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/our-moneyed-men-have-ruled-us-for-the-past-thirty-years-under-the/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [There are a few Chinese smuggled in over the borders of British Columbia on the north and Mexico on the south.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/there-are-a-few-chinese-smuggled-in-over-the-borders-of-british/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [I will lead you to the City Hall, clean out the police force, hang the Prosecuting Attorney, burn every book that has a particle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/i-will-lead-you-to-the-city-hall-clean-out-the-police-force-hang-the/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [As you suggested I have in the following disputed certain passages, trusting you will do me the justice either to modify the same or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/as-you-suggested-i-have-in-the-following-disputed-certain-passages/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [California must be all American or all Chinese. We are resolved that it shall be American, and are prepared to make it so. May…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/california-must-be-all-american-or-all-chinese-we-are-resolved-that/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [We intend to try and vote the Chinaman out, to frighten him out. And if this won't do it, to kill him out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/we-intend-to-try-and-vote-the-chinaman-out-to-frighten-him-out-and-if/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [A few men own from ten thousand to two hundred thousand acres each. The poor Laborer can find no resting place, save on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/a-few-men-own-from-ten-thousand-to-two-hundred-thousand-acres-each/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [To add to our misery and despair, a bloated aristocracy has sent to China - the greatest and oldest despotism in the world -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/to-add-to-our-misery-and-despair-a-bloated-aristocracy-has-sent-to/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [We are with you in this work. Workingmen must form a party of their own, take charge of the government, dispose gilded fraud, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/we-are-with-you-in-this-work-workingmen-must-form-a-party-of-their/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [Will he get a place for his oldest boy? He can not. His girl? Why, the Chinaman is in her place too!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/will-he-get-a-place-for-his-oldest-boy-he-can-not-his-girl-why-the/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [We know that if gold, if fraud, if force can defeat us, they will all be used. And we have resolved that they shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/we-know-that-if-gold-if-fraud-if-force-can-defeat-us-they-will-all-be/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [We are men, and propose to live like men in this free land, without the contamination of slave labor, or die like men, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/we-are-men-and-propose-to-live-like-men-in-this-free-land-without-the/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) > [They are imported by companies, controlled as serfs, worked like slaves, and at last go back to China with all their earnings. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-kearney/they-are-imported-by-companies-controlled-as-serfs-worked-like-slaves/) [Denis Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) [Explore all 15 Denis Kearney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-kearney/) ## 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/) > [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 > [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/) > [We need Democrats and Republicans in Congress to work together to fashion a very comprehensive pushback to Russia, not just the cyber-hacking, but their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-schiff/we-need-democrats-and-republicans-in-congress-to-work-together-to/) [Adam Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-schiff/) [Browse all 94 Bribery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bribery/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They have seized upon the government by bribery and corruption. They have made speculation and public robbery a science. 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