Daniel Patrick Moynihan Quotes

Power is something of which I am convinced there is no innocence this side of the womb.

Divorced from ethics, leadership is reduced to management and politics to mere technique.

Civilizations do not collapse because the citizenry are corrupt or lazy or anti-intellectual. These people do not have the power and influence to either lead or destroy. Civilizations collapse when those who have power fail to do their jobs.

I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best for the State; and as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare - I have no use for him, either.

In the time I've spent in public life, one of the things I've learned is that some issues look a lot different when you're actually in office compared to when you're on the campaign trail.

Once you've built the big machinery of political power, remember you won't always be the one to run it.

There is a paradox in politics that what it takes to get elected is not necessarily what it takes to govern, and my feeling is that trying to control things too much feels icky to me.

I think water seeks its own level, that we go through challenges to become better. And now more than ever, it's good to look at who you're following in any type of hierarchy or institution - be it a church or the government. We can see how easy it is for people to lose their footing when they have great power.

Ethiopia did not have the same problem [of corruption]. African leaders looked at us with envy.

But who would dare condemn me in this world with no judges, where no one is innocent!

From experience I can say that we can make our nation corruption free. Only promises won't help...Irade Nek Hone Chahiye.

Every decision that affects our lives will be made by the person who has the power to make that decision, not the 'right' person or the 'smartest' person or the 'best' person. Make peace with this fact.

It is easy to defend the innocent; but who is eloquent enough to defend the guilty?

It's perfectly obvious that somebody's responsible and somebody's innocent. Otherwise it [justice] makes no sense at all.

Who so taketh in hand to frame any state or government ought to presuppose that all men are evil, and at occasions will show themselves so to be.

Corruption is not a Canadian value!

The phrase public office is a public trust, has of last become common property.

There are no innocent bystanders.

You cannot lay remorse upon the innocent nor lift it from the heart of the guilty. Unbidden shall it call in the night, that men may wake and gaze upon themselves.

Advisers advise, and ministers decide.

How wicked, my brothers, innocent milk must always seem to me now.

No innocent person ever has an alibi.

To spare the guilty is to injure the innocent.

If one meets a powerful person - Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin or Bill Gates - ask them five questions: 'What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?' If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system.