Zephyr Teachout Quotes

As Members of Congress, we should not be using public office for private gain.

Have I given any symptoms of an avaricious disposition? Have I obtained any grants from the crown since I have been placed at the head of the treasury? Has my conduct been different from that which others in the same station would have followed?

When you've got a guy who's in position to influence who gets what, the potential is always there for corruption.

I don't think that anybody is worse than a public official who sells his office and corrupts others.

Resist the temptation to exploit power for personal or group interests.

Beware of all men who would turn the tasks and the necessities of the nation to their own private profit or use them for the building up of private power.

Corruption requires looking into someone's soul and making judgments about their intent.

Anyone in a position of power is either corrupt or assumed to be corrupt, and the assumption of corruption is as bad as the reality of it.

Today, to allege corruption seems to be the pastime of most people. All kinds of allegations are leveled. I think it is self-defeating.

Corruption has its own motivations, and one has to thoroughly study that phenomenon and eliminate the foundations that allow corruption to exist.

An unvirtuous citizenry tend to elect representatives who will pander to their covetous lustings.

All institutions are prone to corruption and to the vices of their members.

Pomp corrupts church officials

Unfaithfulness in public stations is deeply criminal …. There is too much corruption even at this infant stage of our republic. Virtue is not in fashion. Vice is not infamous.

Corruption is like a ball of snow; when once set a rolling, it must increase.

The great Government we loved has too often been made use of for private and selfish purposes.

How can it be illegal or unethical if the most important man in Congress is doing it?

Many government officials have very high moral standards at the beginning of their duties, but after a while some officials sway from the right path and easily fall into the temptation of bribery and fraud.

Corruption is when a politician uses public funds to deliver pistachio ice cream to his home and transfer garden furniture to his Caesarea villa, then requesting that the expenses be covered for the water in his pool and fights to get a private jet.

There can be no compromise regarding corruption.

Whenever there is money, power, and titles involved, players are going to be corrupt. That might be a political statement, but that's what it is for the athletes, too.

One must not confuse the fight against corruption with the persecution of the rich or wealthy families.

Corruption is everywhere. It's not just in the Congress. Corruption is not just your prerogative or mine.

Criminals gravitate into government positions like natural law.

Corruption has seeped into every section of life.