Money Quote by William Graham Sumner
““Can anyone imagine that the masterfulness, the overbearing disposition, the greed of gain, and the ruthlessness in methods, which are the faults of the master of industry at his worst, would cease when he was a functionary of the State, which had relieved him of risk and endowed him with authority? Can anyone imagine that politicians would no longer be corruptly fond of money, intriguing, and crafty when they were charged, not only with patronage and government contracts, but also with factories, stores, ships, and railroads? Could we expect anything except that, when the politician and the master of industry were joined in one, we should have the vices of both unchecked by the restraints of either?””
About This Quote
Warns that merging corporate power with state authority amplifies corruption, as neither sphere checks the other's excesses.
In simple terms: Power concentration breeds corruption.
Key Takeaway
Beware of unchecked authority.
Themes
politics
economics
ethics
power
Mood
critical
cautious
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government‑industry liaison
- policy reform debates
- academic lectures
Key Concepts
political economy
corruption
Practical Applications
- public policy analysis
- ethics training
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards can separate corporate and state power?
- Can transparency truly limit combined corruption?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that state oversight can curb corporate excess, but history shows regulatory capture often reinforces the same vices.
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![“The yearning after equality [in economic outcome] is the offspring of envy and covetousness, and there is no possible plan for satisfying that yearning which can do aught else than rob A to give to B; consequently all such plans nourish some of the meanest vices of human nature, waste capital, and…” quote by William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9b4/william-graham-sumner-5011_can-do_the-yearning-after-equality-in-economic_454035.jpg)
