Corruption Quote by Erich Maria Remarque
““The pillars of human society are covetousness, fear, and corruption,” retorted Grau. “Man is evil, but loves the good—when others do it.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: All Quiet on the Western Front, 1929
Human society is built on greed, fear, and corruption, yet people still pursue goodness when they see others doing it.
In simple terms: Society's foundations are flawed but goodness spreads through example.
Key Takeaway
Promote ethical behavior by modeling it.
Themes
ethics
society
human nature
Mood
hopeful
critical
Type
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- leadership
- community building
- policy making
Key Concepts
philosophy
morality
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions can you take to model integrity?
- How do you address the underlying vices?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing goodness may overlook systemic issues.
![“[T]he scale of a man's evil is not entirely to be measured by its practical consequences. Men commit evil within the scope available to them.” quote by Theodore Dalrymple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f63/theodore-dalrymple-7084_evil_t-he-scale-of-a-man-s-evil-is-not-entire_1381174.jpg)
![“Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party [Communist Party of China] and the downfall of the state [People's Republic of China].” quote by Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7b8/xi-jinping-16533_china_corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of_9525.jpg)
