Corruption Quote by Patricia Lockwood
““All my life I have overheard, all my life I have listened to what people will let slip when they think you are part of their we. A we is so powerful. It is the most corrupt and formidable institution on earth. Its hands are full of the crispest and most persuasive currency. Its mouth is full of received, repeating language. The we closes its ranks to protect the space inside it, where the air is different. It does not protect people. It protects its own shape.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The We” in The New Yorker, 2020
Collective identity can become a corrupt, self‑preserving force that silences dissent.
In simple terms: Groups may protect themselves over individuals.
Key Takeaway
Question the motives of “the group”.
Themes
identity
power
corruption
language
society
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- workplace meetings
- online communities
- political parties
- cultural movements
Key Concepts
groupthink
institutional bias
social control
Questions to Reflect On
- When does “the we” become harmful?
- How can individuals retain voice within groups?
A Different Perspective
Groups can also foster solidarity and positive change.
![“Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party [Communist Party of China] and the downfall of the state [People's Republic of China].” quote by Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7b8/xi-jinping-16533_china_corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of_9525.jpg)
