Corruption Quote by Søren Kierkegaard
““In The Knights Aristophanes gave us a picture of the final state of corruption in which the vulgar rabble ends when--just as in Tibet they worship the Dalai Lama's excrement--they contemplate their own scum in its representatives; and that, in a democracy, is a degree of corruption comparable to auctioning the crown in a monarchy.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Either/Or by Søren Kierkegaard, 1843
Corruption can become self‑celebrating, where a society worships its own decay as a symbol of power.
In simple terms: Society may idolize its own moral decline.
Key Takeaway
Beware of glorifying harmful systems.
Themes
politics
corruption
morality
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- media literacy
- ethical debates
- education
Key Concepts
philosophy
social critique
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- What symbols do societies use to legitimize power?
- Can corruption ever be justified?
A Different Perspective
The analogy may be hyperbolic and culturally specific.
![“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)
