--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A bureaucrat is the most despicable of…" description: "\"A bureaucrat is the most despicable of men, though he is needed as vultures are needed, but one hardly admires vultures whom bureaucrats so strangely r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_admire_a-bureaucrat-is-the-most-despicable-of-m_2677874.jpg" --- # A bureaucrat is the most despicable of men, though he is… ![“A bureaucrat is the most despicable of men, though he is needed as vultures are needed, but one hardly admires vultures whom bureaucrats so strangely resemble. I have yet to meet a bureaucrat who was not petty, dull, almost witless, crafty or stupid, an oppressor or a thief, a holder of little…” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_admire_a-bureaucrat-is-the-most-despicable-of-m_2677874.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_admire_a-bureaucrat-is-the-most-despicable-of-m_2677874.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a3/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_admire_a-bureaucrat-is-the-most-despicable-of-m_2677874.jpg) > “A bureaucrat is the most despicable of men, though he is needed as vultures are needed, but one hardly admires vultures whom bureaucrats so strangely resemble. I have yet to meet a bureaucrat who was not petty, dull, almost witless, crafty or stupid, an oppressor or a thief, a holder of little authority in which he delights, as a boy delights in possessing a vicious dog. Who can trust such creatures?” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bureaucrats are likened to vultures: needed yet despised, petty and oppressive. **In simple terms:** Bureaucracy is both essential and corrupt. Key Takeaway Reform or limit bureaucratic power. Themes politics bureaucracy corruption Mood critical analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government - large organizations - public policy Key Concepts administrative theory ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can we improve bureaucratic accountability? - What role do bureaucrats truly play in society? A Different Perspective May overgeneralize all officials as negative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Bureaucrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucrat/) [Bureaucrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucrats/) [Crafty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafty/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Libertarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarianism/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Oppressors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressors/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) ## Related quotes > [He has no other recommendation, save an assumed and crafty solemnity of demeanour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/he-has-no-other-recommendation-save-an-assumed-and-crafty-solemnity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [It saddens me when public officials and bureaucrats are criticized for ulterior motives, none of which I have ever found in a government bureaucrat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-k-powell/it-saddens-me-when-public-officials-and-bureaucrats-are-criticized/) [Michael K. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-k-powell/) > [You can lead a bureaucrat to water, but you can't make him think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-keller/you-can-lead-a-bureaucrat-to-water-but-you-can-t-make-him-think/) [Ric Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-keller/) > [It is outrageous to know that security procedures are apparently so lax at the Department of Veterans Affairs that a single bureaucrat had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ney/it-is-outrageous-to-know-that-security-procedures-are-apparently-so/) [Bob Ney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ney/) > [“He was a bureaucrat, not a hitman, and most of the time that's what supervillainy looks like in real life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-dyer/he-was-a-bureaucrat-not-a-hitman-and-most-of-the-time-that-s-what/) Ben Dyer > [I don't want anybody between a doctor and a patient - not an insurance company bureaucrat or a Washington bureaucrat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrasso/i-don-t-want-anybody-between-a-doctor-and-a-patient-not-an-insurance/) [John Barrasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrasso/) > [Industrialists have begun to realise that they would probably be better at influencing policy themselves, rather than depend on some political stooge or corrupt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sucheta-dalal/industrialists-have-begun-to-realise-that-they-would-probably-be/) [Sucheta Dalal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sucheta-dalal/) > [“And what does an anthropologist do these days?" sad Paul. "Same thing a supernumerary minister does--becomes a public charge, a bore, or possibly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-what-does-an-anthropologist-do-these-days-sad-paul-same-thing-a/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [The only good bureaucrat is one with a pistol at his head. Put it in his hand and it's good-bye to the Bill of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-only-good-bureaucrat-is-one-with-a-pistol-at-his-head-put-it-in/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [A BUSINESSMAN cannot force you to buy his product; if he makes a mistake, He suffers the consequences; if he fails, he takes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-businessman-cannot-force-you-to-buy-his-product-if-he-makes-a/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“bureaucrat said. “Come back with a search warrant”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sandford/bureaucrat-said-come-back-with-a-search-warrant/) [John Sandford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sandford/) > [A bureaucrat is one who has the power to say "no" but none to say "yes."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-l-ackoff/a-bureaucrat-is-one-who-has-the-power-to-say-no-but-none-to-say-yes/) [Russell L. Ackoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-l-ackoff/) > [“But just imagine how hard you would be to watch if you had a whole office building jammed to the rafters with industrial bureaucrats—men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/but-just-imagine-how-hard-you-would-be-to-watch-if-you-had-a-whole/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [There is something about a bureaucrat that does not like a poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-something-about-a-bureaucrat-that-does-not-like-a-poem/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The perfect bureaucrat everywhere is the man who manages to make no decisions and escape all responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-atkinson/the-perfect-bureaucrat-everywhere-is-the-man-who-manages-to-make-no/) [Brooks Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-atkinson/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Admire quotes > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I admire Serena Williams, because, I mean, who doesn't admire Serena Williams?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-konta/i-admire-serena-williams-because-i-mean-who-doesn-t-admire-serena/) [Johanna Konta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-konta/) > [How proud I am to be compared to Oprah. I really admire her. She's a minority woman and she's done all this by herself...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-saralegui/how-proud-i-am-to-be-compared-to-oprah-i-really-admire-her-she-s-a/) [Cristina Saralegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-saralegui/) > [I admire President Obama's ability to trust strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-admire-president-obama-s-ability-to-trust-strangers/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I really admire people's interactions with technology that aren't tech-centric but use it as a tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-polachek/i-really-admire-people-s-interactions-with-technology-that-aren-t/) [Caroline Polachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-polachek/) > [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Shaw's works make me admire the magnificent tolerance and broadmindedness of the english.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/shaw-s-works-make-me-admire-the-magnificent-tolerance-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [I believe in a world where there are no heroes, and I've read and know humanity a lot. There are moments that I admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/i-believe-in-a-world-where-there-are-no-heroes-and-i-ve-read-and-know/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I think it's really good and helpful to have the people you most admire in some other discipline than what you work in. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whit-stillman/i-think-it-s-really-good-and-helpful-to-have-the-people-you-most/) [Whit Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whit-stillman/) > [Part of what we admire about a painting or a piece of music is the order which the artist has imposed upon what would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-storr/part-of-what-we-admire-about-a-painting-or-a-piece-of-music-is-the/) [Anthony Storr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-storr/) > [I respect and admire the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-respect-and-admire-the-premier-league/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) > [“The thing I admire most about you is no matter how hard, or how much the world has tried to beat you, break you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-gill/the-thing-i-admire-most-about-you-is-no-matter-how-hard-or-how-much/) [Nikita Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-gill/) Browse all 2,369 Admire quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A bureaucrat is the most despicable of men, though he is needed as vultures are needed, but one hardly admires vultures whom bureaucrats so strangely resemble. 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