Democratic Quote by William Graham Sumner
“In England pensions used to be given to aristocrats, because aristocrats had political influence, in order to corrupt them. Here pensions are given to the great democratic mass, because they have political power, to corrupt them.”
About This Quote
Source Book: What Social Classes Owe to One Another, 1915
Pensions are used to corrupt those with power, whether aristocrats or the masses.
In simple terms: Pensions manipulate powerful groups.
Key Takeaway
Reform incentive structures.
Themes
politics
corruption
social welfare
power dynamics
Mood
analytical
questioning
Type
sociological
political
When to use this quote
- legislative reform
- public finance
- ethical governance
Key Concepts
elitism
democratic theory
economic incentives
Questions to Reflect On
- Do all welfare systems inherently corrupt?
- How can incentives be aligned ethically?
A Different Perspective
The claim assumes uniform corruption motives across eras.
![“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)
