Corrupt Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli
“Each candidate behaved well in the hope of being judged worthy of election. However, this system was disastrous when the city had become corrupt. For then it was not the most virtuous but the most powerful who stood for election, and the weak, even if virtuous, were too frightened to run for office.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli, 1513
Machiavelli notes that when corruption spreads, power overtakes virtue, deterring the virtuous from seeking office.
In simple terms: Corruption lets the powerful win, scaring the good from running.
Key Takeaway
Address corruption to ensure virtuous leadership.
Themes
politics
ethics
leadership
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- elections
- public office
- anti-corruption reforms
- civic education
Key Concepts
corruption
power dynamics
civic virtue
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies incentivize virtuous candidates?
- What safeguards prevent power from corrupting elections?
A Different Perspective
Powerful interests may still dominate despite reforms.
![“I think everybody is covering their [posteriors] with the Enron scandal and it was very convenient that Sept. 11 came along to deflect the fact that they should never have been in the White House in the first place. What happened in the election was completely corrupt.” quote by Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/db0/sandra-bernhard-3766_convenient_i-think-everybody-is-covering-their-post_72317.jpg)