Constitution Quote by Walter Lippmann
“Very few established institutions, governments and constitutions ...are ever destroyed by their enemies until they have been corrupted and weakened by their friends.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Democracy and the Public Mind, 1947
Institutions survive until internal decay, not external attack, weakens them.
In simple terms: Friends corrupt institutions before enemies destroy them.
Guard against internal corruption.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy review
- whistleblowing
- public oversight
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What signs indicate internal weakening?
- How can societies prevent friend‑driven decay?
Corruption can be subtle and systemic.