--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One must not confuse the fight against…" description: "\"One must not confuse the fight against corruption with the persecution of the rich or wealthy families.\" — Joao Lourenco" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/joao-lourenco-32122_corruption_one-must-not-confuse-the-fight-against-c_1545242.jpg" --- # One must not confuse the fight against corruption with the… ![“One must not confuse the fight against corruption with the persecution of the rich or wealthy families.” quote by Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/joao-lourenco-32122_corruption_one-must-not-confuse-the-fight-against-c_1545242.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/joao-lourenco-32122_corruption_one-must-not-confuse-the-fight-against-c_1545242.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/joao-lourenco-32122_corruption_one-must-not-confuse-the-fight-against-c_1545242.jpg) > “One must not confuse the fight against corruption with the persecution of the rich or wealthy families.” [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anti‑corruption efforts should target wrongdoing, not target wealth alone. **In simple terms:** Fight corruption, not just rich people. Key Takeaway Focus on corrupt actions, not status. Themes justice integrity politics Mood critical analytical Type political ethical When to use this quote - government audits - NGO investigations - whistleblower protections - public policy debates Key Concepts ethics law enforcement social equity Questions to Reflect On - How can anti‑corruption policies be fair to all? - What safeguards prevent misuse of power? A Different Perspective Wealthy individuals can also be corrupt; blanket accusations risk injustice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Corruption Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption-persecution-5763952/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Fight Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-corruption-330813/) [Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution/) [Persecution Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution-rich-5763953/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Wealthy Families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealthy-families-376950/) ## Related quotes > [As you fight corruption, it fights back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yemi-osinbajo/as-you-fight-corruption-it-fights-back/) [Yemi Osinbajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yemi-osinbajo/) > [When you fight corruption, it fights back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuhu-ribadu/when-you-fight-corruption-it-fights-back/) [Nuhu Ribadu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuhu-ribadu/) > [We did not organize press conferences and talk about fighting against corruption, we acted on the ground and brought changes in the schemes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-did-not-organize-press-conferences-and-talk-about-fighting-against/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [A country is strong which consists of wealthy families, every member of whom is interested in defending a common treasure; it is weak when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-country-is-strong-which-consists-of-wealthy-families-every-member/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“Please tell me you don't go around saying crap like that to everyone. No wonder no one in town ever talks to us. Wealthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-genevieve-tucholke/please-tell-me-you-don-t-go-around-saying-crap-like-that-to-everyone/) [April Genevieve Tucholke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-genevieve-tucholke/) > [I don't begrudge rich people running for office. God knows that FDR and JFK both came from very wealthy families but I think did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-roginsky/i-don-t-begrudge-rich-people-running-for-office-god-knows-that-fdr/) [Julie Roginsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-roginsky/) > [Many older wealthy families have learned to instill a sense of public service in their offspring. But newly affluent middle-class parents have not acquired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-elkind-20th-century/many-older-wealthy-families-have-learned-to-instill-a-sense-of-public-2/) [David Elkind (20th Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-elkind-20th-century/) > [ \[Donald Trump\] would give wealthy families 30 cents or 40 cents on the dollar for their nannies, and little or nothing for millions of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/donald-trump-would-give-wealthy-families-30-cents-or-40-cents-on-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“We all know many people who come from hard-working families, where they had to grow up with a bare minimum and become self-sufficient and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-stevens/we-all-know-many-people-who-come-from-hard-working-families-where/) [Anna Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-stevens/) > [“the coffers of huge corporations and the pockets of a few wealthy families who control the planet’s natural resources.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-marrs/the-coffers-of-huge-corporations-and-the-pockets-of-a-few-wealthy/) [Jim Marrs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-marrs/) > [We're all from very un-wealthy families, and we came together more naturally than most bands do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/we-re-all-from-very-un-wealthy-families-and-we-came-together-more/) [Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/) > [Since FDR's New Deal, corporations and wealthy families have been non-stop finding new ways to get tax breaks, deregulation and entitlements from the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/since-fdr-s-new-deal-corporations-and-wealthy-families-have-been-non/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [I don't know anyone, from any class, who's had a perfectly easy life. I've met people born into wealthy families who feel like they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paloma-faith/i-don-t-know-anyone-from-any-class-who-s-had-a-perfectly-easy-life-i/) [Paloma Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paloma-faith/) > [The IMF and the World Bank, the most opaque and secretive entities, put millions into NGOs who fight against "corruption" and for "transparency." They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-imf-and-the-world-bank-the-most-opaque-and-secretive-entities-put/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“China will make real progress in the fight against corruption only when prosecution and conviction are separated from politics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-g-chang/china-will-make-real-progress-in-the-fight-against-corruption-only/) [Gordon G. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-g-chang/) ## More by Joao Lourenco > [The United States is a very important country to us in the international context. But on other hand, Angola is also important to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/the-united-states-is-a-very-important-country-to-us-in-the/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [We are going to make every effort to have a transparent administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/we-are-going-to-make-every-effort-to-have-a-transparent-administration/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [No one is above the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/no-one-is-above-the-law/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [We're carrying out a real crusade against corruption and impunity with a focus on white-collar crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/we-re-carrying-out-a-real-crusade-against-corruption-and-impunity/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [We are going to combat corruption, and we are going to underscore the fact that we want the private investors to be a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/we-are-going-to-combat-corruption-and-we-are-going-to-underscore-the/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [The law is for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/the-law-is-for-everyone/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [Corruption happens because there is impunity. That's the reason why corruption is widespread at all levels - from the person who asks for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/corruption-happens-because-there-is-impunity-that-s-the-reason-why/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [Nothing is above the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/nothing-is-above-the-constitution/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [I would like to pass into history as the man of the economic miracle of Angola... That's my mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/i-would-like-to-pass-into-history-as-the-man-of-the-economic-miracle/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [No one is so rich and powerful that they cannot be punished, and no one is so poor that they cannot be protected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/no-one-is-so-rich-and-powerful-that-they-cannot-be-punished-and-no/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [We expect to adopt tax incentives for businesses that invest in the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/we-expect-to-adopt-tax-incentives-for-businesses-that-invest-in-the/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [Angolans who repatriate overseas funds and invest in the economy, companies that generate goods, services, and jobs won't be harassed. No questions will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/angolans-who-repatriate-overseas-funds-and-invest-in-the-economy/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [It is a big challenge, but I believe that, although difficult, it is not impossible to replace President dos Santos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/it-is-a-big-challenge-but-i-believe-that-although-difficult-it-is-not/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [We want Angolans who have fortunes abroad to be the first to invest in the country, thus demonstrating that they are true patriots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/we-want-angolans-who-have-fortunes-abroad-to-be-the-first-to-invest/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) > [One of our priorities is to have an enabling environment for private investment, both domestic and foreign investment, and that means we are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/one-of-our-priorities-is-to-have-an-enabling-environment-for-private/) [Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) [Explore all 16 Joao Lourenco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/) ## More Corruption quotes > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [In the lead up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence and irresponsibility, at worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-zinni/in-the-lead-up-to-the-iraq-war-and-its-later-conduct-i-saw-at-a/) [Anthony Zinni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-zinni/) > [“Don't let cycles of violent crimes, uncontrollable, rising cases of bloody impunity, evil puppets in a crippled judiciary, marionettes in a corrupted legislative system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/don-t-let-cycles-of-violent-crimes-uncontrollable-rising-cases-of/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [As you fight corruption, it fights back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yemi-osinbajo/as-you-fight-corruption-it-fights-back/) [Yemi Osinbajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yemi-osinbajo/) > [Selfishness is one of the principal fruits of the corruption of human nature; and it is obvious that selfishness disposes us to over-rate our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/selfishness-is-one-of-the-principal-fruits-of-the-corruption-of-human/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [ Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party \[Communist Party of China\] and the downfall of the state \[People's Republic of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of-the-party-communist-party-of/) [Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/) > [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) > [It looked incredibly credible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-horlick/it-looked-incredibly-credible/) [Nicola Horlick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-horlick/) > [All power corrupts but some must govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/all-power-corrupts-but-some-must-govern/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) [Browse all 2,253 Corruption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One must not confuse the fight against corruption with the persecution of the rich or wealthy families.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joao Lourenco" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/one-must-not-confuse-the-fight-against-corruption-with-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Corruption" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/one-must-not-confuse-the-fight-against-corruption-with-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/joao-lourenco-32122_corruption_one-must-not-confuse-the-fight-against-c_1545242.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/joao-lourenco-32122_corruption_one-must-not-confuse-the-fight-against-c_1545242.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/joao-lourenco-32122_corruption_one-must-not-confuse-the-fight-against-c_1545242.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One must not confuse the fight against corruption with the persecution of the rich or wealthy families.” — Joao Lourenco", "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": "Joao Lourenco", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One must not confuse the fight...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/one-must-not-confuse-the-fight-against-corruption-with-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/one-must-not-confuse-the-fight-against-corruption-with-the/#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 } } ] } ```