Nations Quote by John Dryden
“The scum that rises upmost, when the nation boils.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Scum” by John Dryden, 1685
When society is in turmoil, the lowest rise to power, exposing corruption.
In simple terms: Crisis lifts the unworthy.
Key Takeaway
Beware of opportunists in chaos.
Themes
politics
corruption
social upheaval
Mood
cautionary
analytical
Type
literary
political
When to use this quote
- elections
- revolutions
- organizational change
Key Concepts
sociology
power theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Who benefits from chaos?
- How can integrity survive societal turmoil?
A Different Perspective
Not all rise is malicious.
![“When the fountains of government [borrowing] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the state was forced to check the extension of bureaucracy and to put a stop to public works, then and then only did the Italians realize what it…” quote by John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/908/john-t-flynn-18493_abundance_when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowi_2663.jpg)