--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This source of corruption, alas, is…" description: "\"This source of corruption, alas, is inherent in the democratic system itself, and it can only be controlled, if at all, by finding ways to encourage le..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/james-l-buckley-28242_alas_this-source-of-corruption-alas-is-inhere_497218.jpg" --- # This source of corruption, alas, is inherent in the… ![“This source of corruption, alas, is inherent in the democratic system itself, and it can only be controlled, if at all, by finding ways to encourage legislators to subordinate ambition to principle.” quote by James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/james-l-buckley-28242_alas_this-source-of-corruption-alas-is-inhere_497218.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/james-l-buckley-28242_alas_this-source-of-corruption-alas-is-inhere_497218.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/041/james-l-buckley-28242_alas_this-source-of-corruption-alas-is-inhere_497218.jpg) > “This source of corruption, alas, is inherent in the democratic system itself, and it can only be controlled, if at all, by finding ways to encourage legislators to subordinate ambition to principle.” [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy naturally breeds self‑interest among lawmakers; controlling it requires aligning personal ambition with higher principles. **In simple terms:** Democracy can corrupt; control it by urging legislators to prioritize principle over ambition. Key Takeaway Promote ethical standards and accountability in governance. Themes politics ethics power accountability principle Mood concerned critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - legislative reform - campaign finance regulation - civic education - transparency initiatives Key Concepts public choice theory institutional design moral psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions incentivize principled behavior? - What role does public pressure play? A Different Perspective Changing personal ambition may be insufficient without systemic checks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Legislators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislators/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [I'm going to do everything I can to get myself elected, but that's not enough. I'm going to try to help move the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to-get-myself-elected-but-that-s-not/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [In Maine, we are fortunate to have a Clean Elections system that allows legislators to turn down corporate special interest money. At the national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chellie-pingree/in-maine-we-are-fortunate-to-have-a-clean-elections-system-that/) [Chellie Pingree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chellie-pingree/) > [Today's political leaders demonstrate their low opinion of the public with every social law they pass. They believe that, if given the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-skousen/today-s-political-leaders-demonstrate-their-low-opinion-of-the-public/) [Mark Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-skousen/) > [Legislators in Kansas, Arizona and 23 other states who are properly determined to protect religious freedom can begin by asking themselves: Does any religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blankenhorn/legislators-in-kansas-arizona-and-23-other-states-who-are-properly/) [David Blankenhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blankenhorn/) > [It is the lawyers who run our civilization for us -- our governments, our business, our private lives. Most legislators are lawyers; they make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rodell/it-is-the-lawyers-who-run-our-civilization-for-us-our-governments-our/) [Fred Rodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rodell/) > [The impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-and-rulers-civil-as-well-as/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The same things are best both for individuals and for states, and these are the things which the legislator ought to implant in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-same-things-are-best-both-for-individuals-and-for-states-and/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [I'm not a prejudice person, and I've worked with many male legislators and some have been excellent for us, so I'm not speaking against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/i-m-not-a-prejudice-person-and-i-ve-worked-with-many-male-legislators/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Let me make it clear: The Disbursement Allocation Program is not pork barrel. Of the DAP releases in 2011 and 2012, only nine percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benigno-aquino-iii/let-me-make-it-clear-the-disbursement-allocation-program-is-not-pork/) [Benigno Aquino III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benigno-aquino-iii/) > [What I have absolutely no sympathy with is the legislator, the man who seeks, for his own profit, to exploit the weaknesses of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-lowry/what-i-have-absolutely-no-sympathy-with-is-the-legislator-the-man-who/) [Malcolm Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-lowry/) > [The accountability of state legislators is so much more than federal legislators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-woodall/the-accountability-of-state-legislators-is-so-much-more-than-federal/) [Rob Woodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-woodall/) > [The 'Occupy' movement seems to have found a central theme to its 2012 movement around overturning 'the corporation as a person,' and some legislators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/the-occupy-movement-seems-to-have-found-a-central-theme-to-its-2012/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Trade and commerce, if they were not made of Indian rubber, would never manage to bounce over the obstacles which legislators are continually putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/trade-and-commerce-if-they-were-not-made-of-indian-rubber-would-never/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [It is fascinating to watch legislators turn away from their usual corporate grips when they hear the growing thunder of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/it-is-fascinating-to-watch-legislators-turn-away-from-their-usual/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) ## More by James L. Buckley > [Given the difficulty of resisting such temptations over the longer run, a proper concern for the welfare of congressional souls may well be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/given-the-difficulty-of-resisting-such-temptations-over-the-longer/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [If enough people openly engage in conduct once considered reprehensible, we rewrite the rule book and assume that God, as a good democrat, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/if-enough-people-openly-engage-in-conduct-once-considered/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [It would seem, therefore, that this constitutional safeguard may no longer serve its original purpose, especially when, as we learned last year, some acts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/it-would-seem-therefore-that-this-constitutional-safeguard-may-no/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [The Court made an exception, however, in the case of candidates contributing to their own campaigns because of the rather reasonable presumption that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/the-court-made-an-exception-however-in-the-case-of-candidates/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [Unfortunately, in today's world we have to be reminded that the power of an oath derives from the fact that in it we ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/unfortunately-in-today-s-world-we-have-to-be-reminded-that-the-power/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [In rendering its decision in our case, the Supreme Court equated money with speech because these days it takes the first to make yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/in-rendering-its-decision-in-our-case-the-supreme-court-equated-money/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [Under the circumstances, may I suggest another means of encouraging probity in elective office. I refer to term limitations, which can serve ends beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/under-the-circumstances-may-i-suggest-another-means-of-encouraging/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [Unfortunately, the media, which are not at all reluctant to act in their own self-interest, have succeeded in equating reform in the public mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/unfortunately-the-media-which-are-not-at-all-reluctant-to-act-in/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [I am persuaded that in the case of elected officials, the overwhelming temptation is to conclude that it is more important for your constituents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/i-am-persuaded-that-in-the-case-of-elected-officials-the-overwhelming/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [They may then be willing to cast principled votes based on an educated understanding of the public interest in the face of polls suggesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/they-may-then-be-willing-to-cast-principled-votes-based-on-an/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [I had hoped that the current presidential campaign debates might educate the public as to what is really involved in the ongoing controversy over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/i-had-hoped-that-the-current-presidential-campaign-debates-might/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [What people fail to appreciate is that the currency of corruption in elective office is, not money, but votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/what-people-fail-to-appreciate-is-that-the-currency-of-corruption-in/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [Once it becomes impossible for members of Congress to make a career of legislative service, the temptation to bend a vote for whatever reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/once-it-becomes-impossible-for-members-of-congress-to-make-a-career/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [The kind of corruption the media talk about, the kind the Supreme Court was concerned about, involves the putative sale of votes in exchange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/the-kind-of-corruption-the-media-talk-about-the-kind-the-supreme/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) > [Moreover, we are showing a dismaying tendency to recast God in Man's image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-buckley/moreover-we-are-showing-a-dismaying-tendency-to-recast-god-in-man-s/) [James L. Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) [Explore all 19 James L. Buckley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-buckley/) ## More Alas quotes > [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Time, time - that is our greatest master! Alas, like Ugolino, time devours its own children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-berlioz/time-time-that-is-our-greatest-master-alas-like-ugolino-time-devours/) [Hector Berlioz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-berlioz/) > [Removing prejudices is, alas! too often removing the boundary of a delightful near prospect in order to let in a shockingly extensive one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-fulke-greville/removing-prejudices-is-alas-too-often-removing-the-boundary-of-a/) [Sir Fulke Greville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-fulke-greville/) > [Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-pharcellus-church/yes-virginia-there-is-a-santa-claus-he-exists-as-certainly-as-love/) [Francis Pharcellus Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-pharcellus-church/) > [Alas, Postumus, the fleeting years slip by, nor will piety give any stay to wrinkles and pressing old age and untamable death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/alas-postumus-the-fleeting-years-slip-by-nor-will-piety-give-any-stay/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [The flesh is sad, alas, and I have read all the books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/the-flesh-is-sad-alas-and-i-have-read-all-the-books/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [Alas! all music jars when the soul's out of tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/alas-all-music-jars-when-the-soul-s-out-of-tune/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [In spite of the honestest efforts to annihilate my I-ity, or merge it in what the world doubtless considers my better half, I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/in-spite-of-the-honestest-efforts-to-annihilate-my-i-ity-or-merge-it/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [The dumpling is indeed of more ancient institution, and of foreign origin; but alas, what were those dumplings? Nothing but a few lentils sodden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-dumpling-is-indeed-of-more-ancient-institution-and-of-foreign/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [“World is so beautiful, but alas! There are so many assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/world-is-so-beautiful-but-alas-there-are-so-many-assholes/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ideally a painter (and, generally, an artist) should not become conscious of his insights: without taking the detour through his reflective processes, and incomprehensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/ideally-a-painter-and-generally-an-artist-should-not-become-conscious/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Alas! we makeA ladder of our thoughts, where angels step,But sleep ourselves at the foot: our high resolvesLook down upon our slumbering acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/alas-we-makea-ladder-of-our-thoughts-where-angels-step-but-sleep/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) Browse all 453 Alas quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This source of corruption, alas, is inherent in the democratic system itself, and it can only be controlled, if at all, by finding ways to encourage legislators to subordinate ambition to principle.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James L. 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